The sun., 1919-02-25
GERMANY BLUFFTNG,
SAYS G. M. SCHWAB
Great Prosperity Due Here
Soon, He Predicts, After
European Trip.
SEES PERIL IN DRY RULE
Women of U. 8. Must Solve
Economic Problem-Wilson
and Baruch Praised.

me cable has ceased TO be ubl-
Guftoue. as II utterly failed even to
hint that Charles NJ. schwab was on
white Star liner Olympic. which locked
last night. after a swift trip from Brest.
s Tho steel maker. who gave up his
strenuous Job Of directing the forces Of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation to take
seven weeks vacation and incidentally
look over the battiehelds Of France, said
he Just naturally expected to see the
ship news reporters when he arrived
at Quarantine, and he was not dlsap-
pointed. He said he was really get
ting unfamiliar with Europe. his las
previous visit having been four years
aga
Mr.. schwab went away from here on
New Years Day on the George Wash
tngton. and. in his Characteristic style.
began interviewing everybody the mo-
,nent he landed on the other side His
specialties are making steel and gar
nering impressions His first remarks
were about the President
= gathered over there" he said, that
President Wilson. with whom talked
while on the other side, has won the
esteem Of Europe for himself and the
American people by his projects and his
methods. Otherwise than the President,
one man who impressed me a good deal
by his understanding Of things as they
are and as they may be is Berney Ba-
ruch. He seems to have a very clear
ErNsp Of the whole situation. and I am
sure will be Of very great value as an
adviser.
Survey OF Ia ttlehelds.
Tmade a survey OF all the great bat
tlefelds partly In an automobile that
Mr.. Churchill lent me and partly in Gen.
Pershings car. I went through the
northern part OF France and the Ger
man territory occupied by the Allies. !
went to Coblenz, Metz and all along the
Rhine and back to Paris, the tour filing
IN three weeks. looked at the destruc-
.'vn wrought by the Germans and also
went over all the territory over which
our own doughboys had fought. When
saw the field OF Chateau Thierry I
felt prouder than ever of being al
American. That was some fight ou-
boys put UP, and they are regarded over
there very highly. Everybody says their
Behavior before and after the war has
been splendid.
II was three days at Brest. and talked
with Gems Butler and Hoelwick and had
luncheon In the mess hall. writing In the
camp book that / was delighted with the
meal and the camp organization. Brest
IL not place where things can be done
expeditiousy. but what has been done
reflects credit on those responsible 1t is
not exactly a Fifth avenue, but Gen.
Pershing believes that II is pretty good
considering the circumstances
II met Gen. Foch and Premier Glenn
enceau. The Premier Is as much Of an
american as he Is a Frenchman. When
read the ships radio telling of the
shooting was not surprised Clemen-
ceau Is very democratic and fearless
man, quite easy to approach ! re-
marked TO his doctor when met him in
Paris that the Premier was pretty poorly
protected and that 1t would be an easy
matter for anybody 70 kill him.
II was much impressed with the mod
esty of Gen. Foch. We had a hard time
swapping views. az he speaks little Eng
llsh and my French is rotten. He Is the
most unassuming great man have ever
met. He denied that he was a military
genius. saying tho whole army was
nothing but a great orchestra playing
together and following the baton of the
leader. He was Just an officer and all
obeyed him.
Commercial conditions are pretty
bad at present IN Germany. The Ger
mans are putting on bold front, but
they are aware that there Is much
bluff IN II. It will be n long time be-
fore the country will be able to resume
business on the sea. as their ships will
not be available for months The atti-
tude of the German people in the vii
q "a 10 n ~ I'M
frious persons who simply want TO be
let alone.
Views on Business.
In regard to business In America I
nay say that / am at present slightly
pessimistlc, but for the future 1 am
strongly optimistic. That future surely
has In store success for American BUSH
ness. Meanwhile re require even now
70 much for our unusual development
here that we are bound to have pros
pcrity. 1 hope and believe n way may
be found. n legal way, to tide US over
the transition period.
THE people of Europe seemed In
credulous about the adoption of nation
wide prohibition here. They seemed to
regard It almost as a hoax. am
not drinking man. but ] am not in
favor of prohibition. When you begin
20 prohibit things the people affected
ere apt to resort to other than legal
methods to get what they want | do
not like the idea OF our liberties being
interfered with in the manner that the
prohibitionists seem to think is right.
Such measures as this are apt to aggra-
waite the spirit OF Bolshevism that exists
i.-asA @ classes 81 working people l
nm against prohibition and believe that
the working man should have his beer"
Mr.. Schwab said he had met the Presi-
dent at Brest and that the latter did not
have time to visit the camp. The Presi-
dent was pleased and hopeful AS to his
own business of iron and steel Mr..
Schwab said he did not expect much Inn
mediate business, but felt sure that IL
ultimately would come. The so-called
reconstruction could not possibly begin
for some time.
. Mr.. Schwab said he was immensely
interested in all American soldiers.
white or black, and for that reason
made point Of going down among the
1000 colored troopers aboard the Olym-
pic and chatting with them. He spoke
ct the formal dinner always utilized for
oratory the night before n liner enters
port. and gave his impressions OF what
America should do to conserve her
wealth and maintain her prosperity. He
sid 1t was up TO the women 10 solve
the great economic problem confronting
the country. The solution was the prac-
tlse OF economy in the home. Our great
est Advancement was in the hands of
the women. In normal times France
had many millions to invest monthly,
and 1t was all due to the thrifty French
women. America should follow suit.
Capt. John Jacob Aston, second son Of
Baron William Waldorf Aston arrt,.od