DRAIN ON OIL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 181, 2 August 1941, Page 7

DRAIN ON OIL

HUGE AXIS DEMANDS Monthly Consumption Exceeds 300,000 Tons British omcial Wiirelees. Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 1. Great interest is taken here in the latest estimates of the heavy drain on German oil resources involved by the Russian war. The British petroleum Press service calculates that German oil consumption in the Russian campaign must be at a minimum rate of 300,000 tons a month. A conservative assumption that all the tanks operate for an average of 60 miles daily, and the remaining vehicles an equivalent of 100 miles daily gives a total consumption of 1 020,000 gallons of fuel daily, or about 100,000 tons a month. To keep the advanced bases supplied, an estimate of 72,500 vehicles—equivalent to the number operating with the fighting divisions—would be conservative. Assuming, again, that the average distance is 100 miles daily, at ten miles to the gallon, the consumption of 74,000 tons a month is arrived at.

The air force used for all purposes is placed at 4000 planes. Assuming that the Germans have half their force in the air three hours a day, the total fuel consumption would be 2000 tons daily or 60,000 tons monthly. Allowance tor ground staff requirements raises this to 70,000 tons monthly.

The consumption by German naval forces in the Baltic and by the Finnish. Hungarian and Rumanian armies brings the oil expenditure to well over 300,000 tons monthly, whiete probably errs or. the low side.