GERMANY’S NEEDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 31, 16 November 1939, Page 5

GERMANY’S NEEDS.

SUPPLIES FROM THE SOVIET. DISILLUSIONMENT POSSIBLE. NEW YORK, November 15. Tlie Berlin correspondent oft the “New York Times” (Mr Otto D. Tolischuss) says the German press is still presenting a rosy picture of Russian Supplies rolling into Germany, but military publications and military commentators are growing sceptical. They .point out that Russian resources need development, and production is mostly below Russia’s own requirements. Germany can count only on food, manganese and timber. Her hopes regarding oil are melting, while, although she has vast undeveloped resources of lead, copper, zinc, nickel and tin, the Soviet is importing these b¥sic war materials herself.

Colonel von Niedermayer told the Cologne Geographical Society that Germany’s inability to obtain supplies was due to—

(1) Soviet industrialisation, .which had increased the consumption of raiv materials faster than the production. He added that centralised dictatorial direction Aims suppressing personal interest and affecting quality. (2) The vastness of the territory in Avhich Russia’s resources are scattered, plus the facts that Avhile production has increased 250 per cent., rail facilities have increased by only, 48 per cent. The railways. Aurtually have not been repaired since the days of the Tsars. Only 30 per cent, of the raihvays-are double-tracked. ...

(3) Russia’s lack of foreign experts and technicians.

Colonel A’on Niedermayer anticipates that e\ r en supplies of food and fodder will not bo large enough because, while agriculture has been made entirely dependent on tractors, they often lack petrol to operate. : ' :- -b