The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-06-10
Payment Has Begun.
New orleans 7imes-picoynne.l

Payment Has Begun.
New Orleans Times-PicGyMae.l
Taking a discount off for chronic
mendaclty, there are Indications that
Germany is ut last beginning to give
up those things which the peace terms
demanded Of her-barring, of course.
the millions that she will need years Of
skimping and hard work to accumulate.
According to the National Zcitung, the
Boche. by special agreement with Bel
quinn. is giving back, or rather replac-
ing. the treasures Of the famous lou
vain library, claiming already to have
expended five million francs. gold, In
this work. OF course we don't believe
she has spent such money ut all, but
that she merely mas replaced In kind,
out Of her own museums and cOllec-
lions. However, that Is immaterial to
the Belgiams as long as hooks and
pamphlets and manuscripts are turned
over that have an interest comparable
to those that were so wantOnly burned
during the first weeks of the war.
1t seems that many Belgian pictures
are being actually replaced. for, except
in such spectacular instances as the
I.ouvain burning. the German was too
sllrewd to destroy art treasures that
might he carted away for distribution
In the FatherlalAl.
8 The same German publication tells
Of eight billion marks having been
turned over to France. partly cash and
partly in securities. together with fur
ther quantities of looted art treasures
and of German art possessions to re-
place those which had been ruined
accidentally or Intentionally. Again
these figures are subject to revision as
being probable exaggeratiOns due to
German boastfulness or else they. are
put forth as Il possible means Of arous-
ing international jealOusies among the
Allies.
There may he more truth in the off,
cial report. made by the German min
istry Of transport. that the five thou
sand locomotives exacted by the Allies
had been delivered. There may he some
braggadociO. however. In the further
statement. from the same ministry. that
the Prussian-H essian railway still pos
sesses $1,000 locomotives. that bein.
400 more than the system owned be-
fore the war. If this Is true 1t will
show that the Allies were really mod
crate i'm their demands for rOllin:
stock and did not cripple the defeated
enemy In any very cruel manner.
There is one item Of give hack. :
however, which Germany does not
mention. but which is far more serious
to her than the giving up of art works
or securities. This item is the output
Of the Alsatian potash beds. This once
enormous source Of German world
power. and great factor in the com.
merce of the German North Sea ports
Is now being turned through France
Recently the Association DIES Grands
Ports Francois has been formulating
traffic arrangements by which vast sup
plies Of potash. the prime essential IN
fertilization az IN nuneOus other In
dustrial needs, will he diverted from
their old trade route down the Rhine
toward the channel ports. KOuen
Havre and Dunkerque: and. OF course
StrasbOurg. now solidly French. vii
he the prime distribution point for q
great output Of the chemical.
| This potash business. all by itself
will In due time repay France dollar
for dollar for every financial loss sli,
sustained by the war.
Many Formers Growing Sorghum.
A marked Increase In the production
Of sorghum sirup IL indicated by report
received by the United Suites Depart
ment Of Agriculture. which has heel
engaged In a special campaign to Undue,
greater production Of this crop becatls,
! Of the keen demand for sugar substi
tutes. At the beginning Of the Worlt
War the annual yield Of sorghum sirul
i'm the United States was approximate,
13.OOOOOO gallons. This has increased
steadily until for the past year it wa.
approximately 3O.O0O.OtU gallons. Til
average Yield OF sirup per acre has beer
about 100 gallons. hut the fact that thi,
figure can be increased IL Indicated b,
the departments experiments. In which
more than 100 gallons lser acre have
been produced In some localities.
In urging increased paintings to sor
ghum the DEPARTMENTS exlMrts pOint