PRESSURE ON NAZIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 8

PRESSURE ON NAZIS.

Allied Blockade Cuts Off War

Essentials. RUBBER, TIN, METALS. British Official Wireless. RUGBY, December 20. The relentless pressure which the Allied contraband control is exercising upon the economic resources behind the Nazi war machine is indicated*. in figures—based on statistics of world production in 1937—which have been compiled by economic experts in London. From these it is apparent that the whole of the world's production of molybdenite, vanadium, rubber, copra, palm oil, and ground nuts is no longer available to Germanv.

The same is true of 99.9 per cent of world production of tin, 99 per cent of tungsten, 90.5 per cent of nickel, and approximately 96 per cent of copper. It is shown also that 88.75 per cent of world cotton supplies and 86.3 per cent of wool supplies are also beyond Germany's reach.

Even if tae Nazi claims that Russia will be able to provide her with iron ore, manganese, asbestos, phosphates and fodder, and that she can draw from other neighbouring countries whale oil, petroleum and antimony, were substantiated the deficiencies already mentioned are likely, in the view of the British experts, to prove decisive. Their importance in rektion to the war effort which the Xazi Government is imposing on Germany's economy is obvious.

Copper, tin, nickel, molybdenite and vanadium are vital alloys used in hardening steel for various purposes in manufacture. Cotton is important in the manufacture of explosives. Rubber plays a bigger and bigger part, as the war is mechanised and the German substitute, buna, is known to be satisfactory for only certain purposes, besides being uneconomic to produce. I

The ultimate effectiveness of the Allied contraband control is therefore not affected by the possibility of trade with her immediate neighbours through the Balkans, which remain open to Germany. (