INSIDE GERMANY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 172, 22 July 1940, Page 3

INSIDE GERMANY.

ECONOMIC PRESSURE. FOOD SUPPLIES FALLING. PROBLEMS atteaT> FOR HITLER.

"Optimism on the state of things in Germany has been exaggerated and has affected the war preparations of Britain and the Dominions," said Mr. L. K. Munro in an address to the Auckland Rotary Club at its weekly luncheon today on internal conditions in Germany. "We are settling down to a terrible struggle and must enter it with a true appreciation of the strength of our adversary," he continued. "That does not mean in a mood of pessimism, for there is no need for that, but we must fully face the facts. If we do this we shall be more intense in our prosecution of the war."

Dealing with food supplies, Mr. Munro said that Germany was in a position to take much of what she required from the conquered countries, but the disorganisation resulting from invasion and the needs of the local inhabitants would prevent her getting enough to meet all requirements. Germany would, however, take unhesitatingly and ruthlessly if she was counting on a short war. Bread and Fats. In bread supplies and grain for bread Germany appeared to have enough to last until the ena of the next European winter, he stated. In feeding grains—barley, oats and maize — a shortage would become evident in September this year. The position might partially be met by robbing the conquered Countries, but this would aggravate the suffering there and spread disease to Germany.

Fats presented a serious problem to the Nazis, continued Mr. Munro. Supplies were strictly rationed, and, although there had been a temporary

gain from the conquest of Denmark, the supply of butter within the blockade must be heavily reduced in consequence of the new conditions affecting prxluction. In oil seeds and oils Germany was in a worse position. Before the war supplies came from Manchuria, the Philippines, the Netherlands East Indies and Africa, all of which sources were now closed to her. Also, Germany was now cut off from whale oil supplies. The deficiency in fate was to some extent made up by a very unpleasant economy in the use of soap, and a somewhat less severe strain on supplies of edible fats, but the problem would grow more and more acute. Food Problem Not Yet Grave.

"Up to the present the food problem as a whole has not been grave in Germany," declared Mr. Munro, "and it is not likely to become grave until next winter, but in southern Germany there have been complaints of goods not arriving in time to meet ration card orders, and long queues at Munich and other towns where industry has been most disorganised. Still, the restrictions so far have been accepted. 'The German people do not appear to lack confidence that supplies will be maintained. The shortages already experienced are the result mostly of transport difficulties. Germany's railways have suffered a. severe strain, rolling stock has deteriorated, numerous serious accidents have occurred, and on the Rhine and in northwest Germany much serious disorganisation of railway traffic has been caused by air raids."

Mr. Munro predicted that it was on the Rhine and in north-west Germany that Hitler would eventually meet with his greatest troubles. Even before the bombing raids there were outbreaks of disorder in Hamburg and at other German ports, due largely to the consequences of the breakdown in the shipbuilding industry, but the unrest had been speedily stamped out.

Shortages of industrial raw materials were particularly acute in regard to alloys, including nickel for armaments. In fuel oil Germany would be unable to maintain her rate of consumption if land operations on a full scale had to be continued over an extended period.

"Economic distress does not lead to sudden collapse, but ceaseless strain finally weakens the resistance of even the toughest people," said Mr. Munro in conclusion. "Hitler has been wearing out men, as well as machines, for two years, and a major offensive lasting fop several months would end in the collapse of Germany."