My War Memories, 1914-1918
practically not used at all in Germany. The whole rolling-stock situation was one of the greatest anxiety, and called for incessant attention. It was not until the autumn of 1918 that I achieved my desire that the supplies for the, army and the navy should be tinder a single control. The supply of transport material for the army and the home-country \vus already under a single authority—the Director of Mechanical Transport.
G.BLQ. constantly urged the importance of developing all processes for the production of substitutes, but many inevitable natural difficulties stood in the way.
The raw materials for trench warfare, timber and rubble, were drawn on an increasing settle from the occupied territories, but Germany, too, had to send large quantities.
As far as raw material was concerned I n>ukl not deal with more than broad, general questions. l*nt even thesis demanded a thorough study, and I had to keep myaolf constantly au coitmnt if I was to decide rightly in many dttikult problems,
In such a war it was inevitable that the occupied territories would have to supply raw materials. Our strong organization gradually achieved a great deal in this direction. il.Ji.Q. asked the Governors-General in Poland and Belgium to wr*rk for the same end. In all essentials, the satm; methods were followed ' universally. It is obvious that this involved hardship for the local population, but equally obvious that these measures had to be taken.
Every intelligent person will admit that in many cases we might have acted in some more practical fashion, The task before the authorities, collectively and individually, was, however, at once novel and peculiarly difficult to carry out owing to the changing requirements of the long war, In spite of our extreme need, we acted with a consideration that was carried almost too far, when compared with the extreme measures taken at home, Germany had to surrender her church bells, but, at the suggestion of Chancellor von Hertling to His Majesty, Belgium was allowed to retain hers.
The occupied territories were of decisive help to us, both at the front and at home* The exploitation of their resources absorbed
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