New-York tribune. [volume], May 08, 1919, Page 9, Image 9

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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Germany's Plot to Gas the World's Trade
America Freeing Herself
of Teuton Industrial Grip
potash, Optical Glass and
Surgical Instruments at
Tempting Prices, Part
of Economic Conspiracy
Big Strides Here
Still Necessary
Estimated That It Will
Require Five Years to
Satisfy Needs at Home
By Stanley Frost
The following is the twelfth of the
series of articles on the German
economic conspiracy.
There are three industries, in which
the coning of the war found the Ger?
mans completely intrenched in Amer?
ica, which come under the classifica?
tion of the "protective" businesses
which Herzog plans?and Germany is
preparing:?to use as bludgeons to
force other nations into commercial
subjection.
These are potash as fertilizer, opti?
cal glass and surgical instruments.
Each is vital, in a different way. In
each Germany had a dominating posi?
tion, if not an actual monopoly, when
the war broke.
The most important of these is pot?
ash, and Germany is particularly
counting on it as a first weapon In
her war of business aggression. Pot?
ash is an exceedingly valuable fertil?
izer, probably a vital one, for certain
American soils. It is true that there
has been no noticeable loss in fertility
during the potash famine since the
war, but experts agree that the soils
have been impoverished, and that we
to-day need not only our normal sup?
ply, but enowgh to make up the ar?
rears of five years if our lands are
not soon to show serious effects.
When the war broke Germany had
a practical monopoly on commercial
potash. Her deposits were of the kind
that could be put on the market most
cheaply, and she has made the most of
them, killing all competition and reap?
ing enormous profits. She openly
counted on the damage she could do
by withholding the stuff to force oth?
er nations to her terms after the war,
and she has gathered great quantities
of it to be used in her characteristic
ways the moment the blockade is lifted.
Plans to Kill
American Industry
It is estimated that there is $100,
000,000 worth ready to be thrown on I
the American market alone. The first ?
objective would be to kill the Amer- :
ican potash industry, which has grown !
up since the war and is still unable to
meet the German product on equal
terms as to price.
The German potash grip on America
was won in characteristic manner. First
there was the propaganda. Germany's '
high reputation in the scientific and j
particularly in the chemical world
?Mbled her to put out a mass of mate
rial which was accepted as gospel. |
American scientists and agricultural ;
experts took up the campaign, and
there are suspicion? that some were '
in German pay. The main points
made by the propagandists were the
gr?a; need of potash, the wonderful
benefits of potash, and the alleged im?
possibility of American production. So
powerful t?-2 5 this propa?ganda that
there is much uncertainty to-day as to ;
the exact facts in the case.
Propaganda to
Force Potash Sale
The centre of th* ?potash ?ale and
propagan-la In America was the G?r?
ai?? Kail Works, Inc., a New York !
branch of the great Kalisyndikat, ;
G M B H, of Berlin. Here is s report ;
t* eco of the government intelligence ;
ftBtleea on this concern and its work: i
The German potash monopoly has ;
??ways been controlled by the gov- i
?rnraent, and for a long time it kept
? ??ry !arg?! and expensive branch
? America, and employed a large
*?d expensive staff of lecturer?,
4emon*,*.!-<)tor? and agents, who were
i*'-. vj grange meetings and other
^?tir.ji?! of farmer?, and al?o to
If your MEAT or FISH
is Tasteless
you can greatly improve
its flavor by adding
SAUCE
A perfect seasoning for
Soups, Fish, Roasts,
Gravies, Chops, Cheese,
Eggs and Salad Dressing.
Be sure it is
LEA&PERRINS
SAUCE
**? G*tV ?SlQiMAt, WOftCWSMMIHi
ALIEN PROPERTY CUSTODIAN
Sixteenth and P Streets, N. W., Washington, D. C
April 11, 1919.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: I have read with interest the preliminary sketches of Mr.
Frost's stories about the present German menace. I want to say to
you that in my opinion they are a splendid presentation of the
present situation, and, as far as I have gone, accurate and entirely
? justified by present conditions.
The situation at this time calls for just such a series of articles
is Mr. Frost has written, and in order to insure their accuracy in
; detail I would be very glad to go over them when he has finished
them, and make any small corrections which the records of this office
may justify. The wider publication these articles receive the greater
the public service Mr. Frost has been able to render.
FRANCIS P. GARVAN,
Alien Property Custodian.
various agricultural colleges for the
purpose of propaganda.
"This propaganda had a twofold
purpose: First, to impress on the
agricultural communities that Ger?
man potash was the one indispensa?
ble fertilizer, without which crop
failure could he expected, and, sec?
ond, to sow the seeds of Germanic
kultur.
"There can be no doubt that it was
highly successful; so much so that
when the British blockade shut off
potash from Germany many agri?
cultural publications published dire?
ful forebodings (there are many in?
dications that some of this gloom
was scientifically inspired), and the
German government repeatedly re?
ferred to its potash as the one in?
valuable asset which could be used
in dealing with neutrals and later at
the peace table.
"However, if there has been any
crop failure in the United States or
elsewhere as a result of the failure
to import German potash the fact
has escaped the press of America.
"It is worth noting, though, that
even after the United States had en?
tered the war, and long after the
Kali company had ceased to do busi?
ness, its principal New York em?
ployes were put on half pay, there
was no change in the clerical staff,
which was suspected of being em?
ployed in the distribution of Ger?
man propaganda not of a strictly
commercial character."
Propaganda Has
Reappeared Already
The German potash propaganda ha"? '
already reappeared both here and in |
Germany. Herzog classes it far up on I
his list of protective industries. |
"Among raw materials, the most im
portant will be certain salts (potash) j
necessary in agriculture," he says.
The German potash monopoly, how- !
ever, Is one the destruction of which j
now lies in American and Allied hands. ?
Dr. J. E. Spurr, of the Bureau of
Mines, points out that in the Saar i
basin, which France Is seeking under j
the peace treaty, are potash fields, still j
undeveloped, but which within five j
years could very nearly supply the !
world. Moreover, 'in America itself i
there has been a considerable develop- j
ment of potash production, so that the i
experts believe that safety is In sight, j
The American supply of potash is I
low grade, and it has been a tremen- j
dous problem to put its production on ?
a commercial basis. This process has
now been perfected, but only partly ?
applied. There are also being devel- i
oped methods of saving potash as a
by-product to other manufactures, like
that, of cement.
But it will take at least two years
to bring the industry to a point where
it can meet the German prices, and
nearly five before it can supply the
whole country. The Department of the
Interior has asked Congress for a li?
censing system which will give the in?
dustry these needed years, and Dr.
Spurr declares that if this is done it
can safely be predicted that within
five years America will be able to sup
Golden blades
??|th Floor
'BLOSSOM FESTIVAL'
Only Ice Skating
Show in New York
Dinner Show at 7:30.
Supper Show at 11:30.
oro riuor
Dining ? Dancing
Entertainment
''Motorists' Rendezvous"
Dine and Dance in the
Country.
Now Open for the Season.
ply Itself, and perhaps even to under?
sell Germany in the world market.
Romance in Solving
Of Optical Glass Problem
Optical glass of the highest grade
is another vital need. Without it high
grade scientific work is impossible, and
in war time it was found tremendous?
ly difficult to get lenses for gun
sights, range finders, periscopes and
the hundred other imperative needs of
war. Here again the Germans, operat?
ing chiefly through the Goerz Ameri?
can Optical Company, had obtained a
powerful hold. In the first place, thej
were capable of producing a glass thai
was finer and clearer than any mad<
in America, and in the second, they hac
protected themselves with approximate
ly eighty American patents, held b:
the German concern and revokable a
its option.
In this, as in potash, the war ha
brought relief. First, the Alien Prop
erty Custodian seized the Goerz com
pany, and the patents with it, and ha
sold it to an American purchaser, wh
cannot bo hamstrung by the Germans
But even more important, in man
ways, was the accidental discovery o
a method of making in America th
clearest glass in the world, which wa
one of the everyday romances of th
war.
This discovery came in the manv
facture of phosgene, the deadly gas ir
vented in America, and prepared b
the ton for use on the West fron
When one of the brick retort-towers I
in which the gas was made was torn
down, it was found that the inside of
the bricks had been perfectly and won?
derfully bleached.
In due time the news of this reached
.the glassmakers, and experiments
showed that this deadly stuff was the
most powerful bleaching agent the
! chemical world knew, and that with
i its aid almost any kind of sand could
be made into perfect glass. So here,
again, a guard against German compe?
tition during the period when the in?
dustry already started is getting on its
feet- would seem to be all that is need?
ed to insure America.
Can Now Make Own
Surgical Instruments
There is no need of emphasizing the
j importance of the best surgical instru?
ments. When the war began the Amer
? ican trade in these was almost entirel.
controlled by the Kny-Scheerer Cor?
poration which, Mr. Palmer reports
after its false statements had beer
sifted and the fact3 dug up, was founc
to be a branch of the Acticn Gesell
schaft f?r Fein Mechanik, camouflage?
to have the appearance of an Americai
1 concern. Its hold on the trade wa1
| largely due to patent and trademarl
rights, and only partly to the develop
ment in Germany of a technical skil
on the part of the workmen which wa
little known here.
The superiority of the German in
struments was generally recognized
Recently a surgeon was asked abou
| the matter.
"We can get other instruments," h
j said. "They are two or three time
i as hard to keep in condition. And som
which I suppose are patented, I don
suppose we can get it all. Here i
one," and he showed a little pair o
drunken looking scissors, "that mean
all the world to me, and I don't kno
what I can do when it wears out."
The surgeon may be comforted. Tr,
surgical instrument situation, also, hi
been cleared up. The Kny-Scheer<
Corporation, patents, trademarks ar
all, has been taken up. The puttir
; under American control of the Beck?
j Steel Company, which produces ?
! high speed steel needed for such ii
; struments, has also helped. The bus
ness soon will be put on the mark
for Americans to buy.
"The corporation has established tl
foremost place in surgical instrumen
in this country and its products fii
a ready market," Mr. Palmer reporl
"An American factory has been e
tablished, and with the protects
which can be given to the industry
my seizure of the German trademar
and patents, there is no reason why
1 may not compete with any instrume
manufacturers in the world."
The German shipping octopus
America, its threat to America, bo
as a commercial weapon and b
cause of its opportunities for espio
age, will be described to-morrow.
Famous Old Music
Hall in London Is
To Be Torn Down
In Place of Empire Will
Rise Building Containing
Two Theatres and an Im?
mense Roof Garden
New York Tribune
Foreign Presa Bureau
The Empire Music Hall in London is
almost as well known to many New
Yorkers as it is to Londoners, but the
famous building soon is to be torn
down to make way for a new building
that will combine music hall, moving
picture theatre and roof garden. "The
London Times" says:
Some time during the early autumn,
probably in August, a Btart will be
made with the pulling down of the
structure and if the Queen's Hotel,
which adjoins it. Then, for at least
a year, London will have to do without
its, Empire.
The new building will serve a triple
purpose. That part of it nearest to
Piccadilly circus will be devoted to the
theatre; in the centre there will be
a special approach to the winter garden,
which is to be a prominent feature
of the scheme, while on the site of
the present Queen's Hotel will be a sec?
ond theatre, entirely devoted to the
display of cinematograph films.
Four lifts will be installed to take
visitors up to the winter garden, of
which the top floor of the whole build?
ing will consist. In the summer it will
be possible to throw the garden open
to the air, and there will be a veranda
running from one end to the other,
which will make a promenade, giving
a view over Leicester Square. In the
winter the garden will be closed in, but
#ie use of a glass roof and glass panels
in the walls will help to maintain the
illusion of an open air restaurant.
The new Empire is not expected to be
ready for occupation until Christmas,
1920, but when it is available Sir Al?
fred Butt will use the theatre for the
lighter kinds of musical entertainment,
with which it has been lately asso?
ciated.
m-?-?
Murray and Kumagae
To Clash on Courts
Robert Lindley Murray, national
lawn tennis champion, and Ichiya Kum?
agae, of Japan, New York State and
Metropolitan title holder, will play a
special exhibition singles match on the
clay courts of the West Side Tennis
Club, of Forest Hills, on Saturday af?
ternoon at 3 o'clock. Murray's net
rushing style of play, pitted against
Kumagae's back-court game, will fur?
nish a treat for the gallery.
-9
Race Track Man Happy
John G. Cavanagh, the racetrack
stationer, is rejoicing over the safe re?
turn of his son, Robert, who saw eigh?
teen months' service abroad with the
forces under the command of Field
Marshal Haig.
Bolshevik Office
Here Crowded With
U. S. Business Men
Firms Eager to Sell Goods
to Soviets on Cash Basis,
; and Some Expect to
Close Deals Immediately
Despite the State Department's warn?
ing Tuesday that it had not recog?
nized L. C. A. K. Martens, and that
American business men should be
cautious in their dealings with the
Russian Soviet Bureau which he heads,
a visit to his offices yesterday found
them fairly wel lfilled with men said
I to be representatives of various Ameri?
can business concerns.
While. The Tribune representative
sati discussing the work of the com
\ mercial branch Qf the bureau with its
departmental head, A. A. Heller, at
' least four or five prosperously dressed
' men came in. Their cards, which were
, submitted to Mr. Heller, showed them
to be representatives of reputable
: firms.
Mr. Heller said the State Depart
I ment's announcement had had no ef
! feet on the workings of his branch oi
i the bureau.
Mr. Heller aw srequested to name ?
I number of firms with which the bur
| eau had had negotations with a view
j of establishing possible trade relation?
; between Soviet ^ -^ia and Americar
! business, which did, and a visit t<
each of the firm, .imed disclosed tha
while these firms would sell their good:
: for cash, any form of credit to th?
, bureau was out of the question.
"The business of the commercial de
partment of the representative of th?
Soviet Republic," said Mr. Heller, "i
to prepare for the time when trade re
lations between the United States am
Soviet Russia will be established, and j
purchases of American manufacturers
permitted to go forward.
"To carry this out, we have invited
American manufacturers to submit to
us catalogues and in some cases
samples of products, with the object of
classifying this information, so that
orders may be placed as soon as the
possibility of shipment is assured.
"Our offices are visited daily by com?
mercial representatives and we receive
hundreds of letters from all parts of
the country. We are hopeful that the
acquaintances we are forming will lead
to advantage to both countries."
B. L. Bobruff, a consulting engineer
from Milwaukee, who happened to be
in the bureau's offices at this time, said
that he was the representative of the
Mayer Boot and Shoe Company and
the Luther Grinder Company, both at
Milwaukee, and that in a day or so he
expected to close a deal that would
amount to SI,201.250 for shoes.
At the offices of the Hodgman Rub?
ber Company, located at 8 West For?
tieth Street, J. F. White. New York
salesman, said he had been to see Mr.
Heller, and believed his company
would deal with the Soviet Bureau,
provided it paid with cash.
A. P. Brooks, general manager of the
Hammond Multiplex Typewriter Com?
pany, at Sixtieth Street and East River,
said a representative had called on the
Russian Soviet Bureau, but that this
did not mean that his company was
prepared to enter business relations
with the representatives here. He was
inclined to believe, in view of the
State Department's warning, that his
company would go slow.
"We have contracts already ir
Russia, and we will not be in a posi
tion to do new business until we know
whether our old contractors are stil
good," said Mr. Brooks. He added tha
it was his opinion that the Hammonc
company would be guided by the Stati
Department.
E. Seff, representative of H. Lebei
& Co.. dealers in machines and tools
with offices at 309 Broadway, said tha
he had been to see Mr. Heller, bu
that his concern would do busineg?
with the bureau only on a cash basis.
Frank C. Green, representative of
the Western Knitting Mills, at Roches?
ter, Wis., with offices at 346 Broadway,
said that if the bureau showed cash h?
thought his company would sell. He
said his company, which manufactures
woollens, has been working for the
government during the last two years
and that it was eager to rebuild it?
civilian business. It would extend no
credit to the bureau, he added.
Pineapple ,
Desserts?2c
The bottle in
each package
of Pineapple
Jiffy-Jell con?
tains all the
rich essence
from half a ripe
pineapple. The
dessert has a
wealth of this exquisite
flavor, and a package serves
six people for 12 % cents.
You owe to yourself a
trial of this new-type gel?
atine dainty.
10 Flaoora, at Yoar Grocer's
2 Package? for 25 Canta ??g,
Anybody
with $2
can buy a
Victory
Note
You pay:
On a $50 Victory Note ?
$2 down and $1 a week.
On a $100 Victory Note?
$4 down and $2 a week.
On a $500 Victory Note?
$20 down and $10 a week.
You make your weekly pay?
ments at any bank or trust
company in Greater New
York.
It's the easiest and most convenient
thing in the world ??lNVEST!
Mai? your weekly payments at any of tht undersigned Banks :
VICTORY COUPON BOOK
Can be bought at any bank in Greater
New York, any Victory ?Loan Booth, or
from any authorized Loan salesman or
saleswoman.
American Exchange Nation?! Bank
Aliarte National Baak of the Cltr of New Tara
American Trutt Co
Bank of America
Bank of Cuba in New York
Bank of Europe
Bank of the Manhattan Co.
Bank of Now York, National Bsakbsg Assockfloa
Bank of the United Statea
Banker? Trost Cora ?pan/
Bank of Washington Height*
Bittary Park National Rank of New York
Bowery Bank of New York
Broadway Central Bank
Brooklyn Truet Company
Bryant Park Bank '
Central Mercantile Bank of New York
Central Union Truat Cn. of New York
Chaae National Bank
Chalk.? ft Pk.au NatUaal Baak ci Mow York
Chei?ea Exchange Bank
Chemical National Bank
Cltiaena National Bank of New York
Coal ft Iroa Nitloaal Baak of th* City of Now York
Colonial Bank
Columbia Bank
Colombia Trust Co.
Commercial Exchange Bank &
Commercial Trust Co. of New York
Commonwealth Bank, New York City
Continental Bank
Corn Exchange Bank
Eaat River National Baak
Empire Truat Co.
Equitable Truat Co. of New York
Fermera Loan & Truat Co.
Fidelity Truat Co.
Fifth Avenue Bank of New York
Fifth National Bank
Flrat National Bank
Franklin Trust Co.
Fulton Truat Company of New York
Garfield National Bank
Gotham National Hank of New York
Greenwich Bank of the City of New York
Guaranty Truat Company of New York
Hanover National Bank oi tha City of New York
Harriman National Bank
Henry J. Schnitzer State Bank
Hudcon Trust Co.
It-parlors & Tradsra National Bank of New York
Iutornational Sank
Irving Nation&l Bank
Government Loan Organisation
Second Federal Reserve District
Liberty Loan Committee, 120 O'way.N.Y.
Irving Truat Co.
Italian Discount and Truat Co.
Lawyers' Title ox Truat Co.
Liberty National Bank of New York
Lincoln National Bank of the City oi New York
Lincoln Traat Co.
Manufacturers Trust Co.
Mechanics and Metals National Bank
of the City of New York
Mercantile Trust & Deposit Co.
Merchante National Bank of the City of New York
Metropolitan Bank
Metropolitan Trost Co. of tha City of New York
Mutual Bank
National Bank of Commerce in N. Y. *
National City Bank of New York
National Park Bank of New York
New Netherland Bank of New York
New York County National Bank
New York Produce Exchange Bank
New York Trust Company
Pacific Bank
Public Natioaal Bank of New York
Scandinavian Trust Co.
Seaboard National Bank
Second Natioaal Bank of th? City of N. Y.
Sherman National Bank
State Bank
Title Guarantee or. Trust Co.
Unisn Elisentr National Bank of New York
United States Mortgage & Trust Co.
United State? Trait Company of New York
W. R. Grace & Co.'a Bank
SHOE THAT HOLDS ITS
$4.00 $4.50 $5.00 $g.?oo $f?o & $g.oo
IF you have been paying $10 to $12 for fine shoes, a trial will
* convince you that for style, comfort and serviceW.L.Douglas
$7 and $8 shoes are equally as good and will give excellent
satisfaction. The actual value is determined and the retail
price fixed at the factory before W.L.Douglas name and the
retail price's stamped on the bottom. The stamped price isW.L.
Douglas personal guarantee that the shoes arealwaysworththe
price paid for them. The retail prices are the same everywhere.
They cost no more in San Francisco than they do in New York
Stamping the price on every pair of shoes as a protection against high
prices and unreasonable profits is only one example of the constant en?
deavor of W.L.Douglas to protect his customers. The quality of W. L.
Douglas product is guaranteed by more than 40 years experience in
making fine shoes. The smart styles are the leaders in the fashion
centers of America. They are made in a well-equipped factory at
Brockton, Mass., by the highest paid, skilled shoemakers under the
direction and supervision of experienced men, all working with an honest
determination to make the best shoes for -he price that money can buy.
For sale by 106 Vf. L. Douglas ?tores and ?Mer 9000
W. I?. Douglas dealers,or ran be ordered direct from
factory by mall. Parcel Post charges prepaid. Wriie
for Illustrated Catalog showing hon to order by mail
President W. L. Douglas
Shoe Co.. 2JO Spark St.,
Brockton, Mass.
CAUTION
Before you buy be sure
W. L. Douglas name and
the retail price is stampet'
on the bottom and the
inside top facing. If the
stamped price has been
mutilated,
BEWARE OF FRAUD
85
755
847
? 1352
1495
? 084
? 14,52
?2202
W. L. Douglas Stores in Greater New York:
?859 Manhattan Avenue.
1779 Pitkin Avenue.
JERSEY CITY?18 Newark Avenue.
?HOBOKEN?120 Washington Street.
?UNION HILT. 27? Bergenline Ave.
^NEWARK 831 Broad Street.
?A-PATERSON?192MarketSt.,ror.Clark
-JrTRENTON- 29 East State Street.
Nassau Street
Broadway, cor. 8th St.
Broadway, near 14th.
Broadway, oor.36th St.
Broadway (Times Sq.)
Third Avenue.
Third Avenue.
Third Av., cor. 120th St.
?2779 Third Ave.,bet. 146th & 147th Sts.
347 Eighth Avenue.
? 250 West 125th Street.
BROOKLYN.
421 Fulton Street, cor. Pearl.
? 706 Broadway, near Thornton St.
? 1367 Broadway, cor. Gates Avenue.
? 478 Fifth Avenue, cor. 1 lth Street.
Stores marked with a ? carry complete lines of W. L. Douglas Shoes for Women
"The Kiss" is the appropriate title of an
exquisite rendering in oils of a mother and child
painting by J. Campbell Phillips, famous portrait
painter.
This intimate painting with its universal
appeal is faithfully reproduced in full colors in a
full page of next Sunday's Tribune Colorgraphic
Section. None of the delicate shading of the
original has been lost in the reproduction.
Every Tribune mother will want a copy of
"The Kiss" for framing.
Three other splendid full-page subjects in
colors, too, which you'll enjoy and want to pre?
serve.
Make sure of getting them by ordering a copy;
of next Sunday's Tribune to-day. ^ti?
j??kW