I could cite many examples of the new Gospel of French Self-Supply.
Before the war France manufactured lathes that were beautiful examples
of art and precision. The firms that made them were old and solid and
took infinite pride in their product. Now they realise that output must
dominate. A simple type of machine has been chosen as model and will
henceforth be made in large quantities.

Then there is the sewing machine. Before the war two
groups--Anglo-American and German--controlled the French market. By the
ingenious use of export premiums, the Germans had the best of it.

"Why always pay tribute to strangers?" now asks the French housewife. So
far as Germany is concerned, this question is already settled. But the
American sewing machine will have to struggle for its existence
hereafter in France, for plans have been made for at least three huge
factories for its production.

Striking evidence of the growing French industrial independence of
Germany is her advance in crucible making. For years Sèvres vied with
Limoges for ceramic honours. To-day the vast plant which once produced
the most exquisite and delicate ware in the world is now producing the
less lovely but more serviceable crucibles, condensers and retorts
necessary for the distillation of the powerful acid used in modern high
explosives. Previous to the war, the Central Empire had a monopoly on
this market. Indeed, much of the pottery and glassware used in
laboratories and chemical factories was made in Bohemia and marketed by
Germany. Now the Sèvres plant is shipping these goods to England and
Russia.