GERMAN MILITARISM 585 



the disadvantage that the ammonia must be converted into nitric acid 

 by processes which are not yet completely worked out. Undoubtedly, 

 however, the economical manufacture of nitric acid from ammonia will 

 soon become an accomplished fact, as recent publications seem to indi- 

 cate that the problem is almost solved. During the present war all the 

 saltpeter in the German Empire has been requisitioned by the govern- 

 ment for the manufacture of nitric acid and the production of ammu- 

 nition, while sulphate of ammonium obtained by the Haber synthesis 

 and that recovered from the by-product of the coking industries takes 

 its place for fertilizing purposes. The output of the existing Haber 

 plant was doubled at the beginning of the war in order to provide suffi- 

 cient sulphate of ammonium for the coming crops, and it is said that 

 since that time another unit is in course of construction which will defi- 

 nitely secure Germany's requirements for nitrogenous fertilizers. 



Another great benefit which, while the war lasts, will accrue to 

 German agriculture from scientific farming is that the large acreage 

 devoted to the cultivation of the sugar beet — usually the most fertile 

 soil — will be directly available, without the use of additional fertilizers, 

 for the raising of rye, oats, potatoes, etc. During the war Germany 

 will not be able to export beet sugar which she does at other times on an 

 extremely large scale, and will, therefore, not raise so many sugar beets. 

 Utilizing this fertile soil for cereals, potatoes, etc., means an additional 

 supply of food stuffs for the nation. 



The industry for the recovery of the by-products from the coking 

 process, which we already mentioned as a source for sulphate of ammo- 

 nium, has also been highly developed because German militarism needed 

 some of the resulting coaltar products for the manufacture of explosives. 

 Benzol, toluol, carbolic acid, metacresol and diphenylamine are starting 

 materials used in the manufacture of ammunition. Formerly, most of 

 these substances were imported from England, where they were pro- 

 duced from coaltar obtained in the manufacture of illuminating gas by 

 the distillation of coal, while in most other countries, for example, in 

 the United States, illuminating gas is made from water gas. By devel- 

 oping the coking industry, that is, by suitably and economically heating 

 coal, Germany has made herself independent of England, and now pro- 

 duces all the materials required for explosives and ammunition within 

 her own borders. 



Germany is also the only country which has made itself independent 

 of England as far as its consumption of carbolic acid, one of the most 

 important coaltar products, is concerned. This substance, employed 

 both for explosives and as a disinfectant in general hygiene and sur- 

 gery, is a material of war of the highest value. It was not considered 

 wise nor profitable to remain dependent on foreign sources for such an 

 indispensable article. Soon the ever watchful and resourceful chemist 



VOL* LXXXV.- 40. 



