The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-07
Murray Sees Conquest
 Of Russia By Germans
American Business Man Finds Conditions Better in Bel gium Than in England, France and Italy-Prompt
 Ratification Of Peace Treaty is Necessary.


 from MT. A. T. Murray, President Of the American Bosch Magneto Corpor- ation, of Springfield, Mass. In writ ing to The Auto Service Co.,. who represents the Bosch company in this city, he describes the amazing indus trial conditions which exist today in Europe and which he went abroad three months ago to study. Mr. Murray who has just returned, writes as follows:
 'FThe American business man who has been permitted to spend any con- siderable time in Europe during the past year. with facilities to 1sduce the facts as they actually exist, knows that very few of are accurately informed as to the underlying causes of the war-the conditions obtaining during the process of the war, or the the state of affairs as they exist to- day. We have been permitted, only in a very meagre way, to realize how much our future security and our future prosperity are dependent on the rapidity and the manner in which we assume our inevitable obligations as the first power of the world. Amer jeans generally have, I am sorry to say, no clear understanding of what the new order of things mean to us.
 Until 1914 Americans were prob ably the most insular people in the World-insular, because we mad been blessed with a land which permitted us to live within ourselves, and, for tunately, a high tariff had made pos- stble the development of labor sav- ing devices in our several processes of manufacturing (particularly with the fabrication of meta1s) which safe guarded our position. With high II |. we were able to produce fabricated metal to an extent which has de- veloped our methods and our manu- featuring abilities far beyond those of any other country. Excepting Germany, there is no nation in Allied Europe which is not 50 years behind us. A true realization of how insula,r we are is only evident after one has been in Europe. This realization in duced me to study for three months, as I have never studied anything be- fore in may life. conditions that pre- vail abroad at the present time.
 One thing that becomes partfcu- 1arly apparent to an observing Amer ican the moment he begins to study conditions over there, is that our newspapers have not given us any thing that even approaches an &C., curate picture of what the war vas why it was fought-and what the out come has been.
 Without question German propa- ganda came into America in large quantities during the war, but British propaganda so far outStripped it that anything the Germans were able to accomplish looks insignificant in com parison. I am convinced that, from the time the first battle was fought fn ha do1y Americans have never known the real facts unless they have had actual ac- cess to Europe.
 AS much as forty years ago, per- haps even earlier, England found Germany very serious competitor in the worlds markets. It is hard to realize how serious Germany's com- petition was viewed by England without understanding that practi- cally all raw materials used in the fabrication of products in her indus tries were bought in outside markets and then re-sold, after fabrication, ir those countries that supplied the raw materials and the food on which Eng. land existed When Germany started to become d factor in the worlds trade, 1t was striking at the very hear of the system which permits England to exist.
 England took up the gauntlet whict wao thrown down by Germany, no by improving her methods, but b, wasting her man-power. Lloyd-Georg, himself keenly realizing the mistake. England had made, stated that h. had ca nation. Metal product formed a very substantial percentag, Of England's exports prior to the war These products ranged from locomo lives to plow-shares and pen-knives Until 1914, Germany was England only real competitor. To German she was losing ground in practican all lines and in all markets Until tha time, the U. s. had not been a facto in the world competition, principal because Germany and England, wit, their low labor costs, were able | Hnderseu us. England Aau ,u.-
 slight advantage over us Her Iabo resolved about one-fourth of what " paid our labor here, and her outpu per man per day was barely one-ttir of ours But this was sufficient f give England that slight advantag which prevented our becoming a. SC, ioUs competitor.
 The war, however, has left Enslan ip the position where she is obliee ts pay .hree to four times as rouc for labor as she did during the ore war period The British outpu meanwhile, has dropped to a uuarte aod, in some instances, to one-sixt or the American workman's daiI output This means that today Ens land, with her present equipmen cannot again become a competitor the markets of the world in anythfn made of metals unless America an Germany w.lful1y permit her to [ so. The entire capital investment English metal manufacturing ente prises must be scrapped and replace before she can start to regain g. DO ton of her former position.
 On the other hand, Germany h, accomplished one of the things whie made the war inevitable without
 real League of Nations. She Ii; eliminated England in a very lar, degree as supplier Of the world trade. We were told in this count
 by newspapers and periodicals, To, before the war ended, of the 1onde full things England planned to do
 re-adjustment from war to peace co
 ditions. Much of this was propaga
 da designed to keep American man