The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-04-11
HUNS INDExED
TRADE SECRETS
Data. Stolen From France,
Is Hoarded by Germany
ny HAROLD =. DECuTOL

PARIS. April ~ Somewhere In
Germany are carefully prepared card
indexes Of thousands of former cii'
euts and customers 81 The industries
and businesses wrecked ty the Ger
mans in northern France
They were Hystemutlcal y prepared
by German trade experts during the
war for use IN the days after the war
These DAYS are now approaching
Ana what Is the prospect
The most important Industrial dis
trlct OF France L. not ahie TO turn a
wheel. German industries are al.
ready working or al ready 20 get
back in the business scramble.
In their quest for trade. they have
records trade ssecreta'--of the
French industries they ruined. They
hope 20 graft lot Of that trade be
fore France can possibly bc in posi-
ton 90 compete Tor a.
build on Ruins"
The people who used "a buy from
these French factories that were.
are going 90 buv aHains Germany il
going after that business.
That 81 what French statesmen
msan--or "a sample Of what they
m.an-when they talk about Ger
many building upon the ruins II
France
That IL what business mon mean
when they ask "is not Gcrina ny
beaten In the field IN good posi-.
ton TO win The war commercially. 70
far as France is coneern-dF"
Attitude Of France
Frances peace mission has been
severely criticised. IN francc 40 vel
a. out. for holding hack on hitting
the blockade
They have been accused 81 short,
slEhtedn.ss ia obiectinR 20 allowing
Germany q bus food with money
which might be otherwine available
for repairing #o1ne Of the damage
done in France and Belgium
They have wanted a measure 90
military protection and military
protection in form. that has not
met with the approval Of other mis-.
alous,
Want. Even Break"
whether France has been right
or wrong. whether Ehe has seen
clearly or whether she has been
short sighted IL not The point here.
The point - that nobody who
knows and weighs the facts can fail
so sympathire with Francr's dcsirc
for an even break or better: no.
body who thinks about it az all can
afford TO allow the German propa
Eanda that In seeking 10 twist
Frances attitude into something
that isn't. 10 bias their Judgment or
menace the friendship that has 81.
isted for centuri.. between America
and France.
The French arr certain that the
system and motive bchlrd the Ger
man rulnation l. even today not un-
icrstood In America.
Gather Details Of Industry
Not only did the German. collect
names OF customers of French in
durtri.s they heia regular inquiries
called in the business men Of the
Industrial district and forced them
to give all the details Of their susa.
ness
They were German trade experts.
;hes~ Investigators They took rec
erfa ~ how much business the fac.
tory did. what it, profits were. it,
costs. it, collection and delivery AR.
rang-mspts. lts sales 20 larger Gus.
toners
This WAS done systematically.
intellectually. completely. In 81
Queatin. Cambria .chauny and
many other towns tn the somne
wilderness / have just visited
That was the first step. Notice
the system.
Then. came the loouug First
went manufactured goods. then raw
materials. the machinsry--int Ger.
many,
After that the mines. and the tar
and petrol. the destruction an. car
ried nut as meihodicslly ~ 10. theft
Of trade and business secrets. And
all in preparation for the days when
business would get onto. "a peace
basis. when the GermanF hoped 60
be able TO seize the trade Of the in
duHtrien she laid waste.