GERMAN AND ITALIAN OIL SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23130, 20 September 1940, Page 14

GERMAN AND ITALIAN OIL SUPPLIES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—Can Germany and Italy carry on a long war? Of vital need to them is unlimited supplies of both petroleum and crude oil. The German military strategist, Professor Ewald Banse. in his book “Germany. Prepare for War.” published in 1932, the English translation of which Germany made such efforts to suppress, then said; “The chief oil fields of the world being in the hands of the United States. England, Russia, and Rumania, it follows that Germany will never be able to carry through another war unless she can make sure of an unlimited supply from one of these four countries, for an army without motor transport ceases to be a mobile army. It is nevertheless conceivable that we might, by means of vast underground bomb-proof reservoirs, accumulate enough oil in advance to enable us carry on for at least one year or longer. Such stocks of petroleum and crude oil must be available and ready for use at once, in order that the enormous, incalculable use in war must be made good at once.” ... . in „ n The world’s oil production in 1939 was recently given as follows:

From these figures, it is at once seen that the production of oils in both Germany and Italy is negligible. No doubt Germany has secured considerable supplies from the countries she has conquered, and she is extracting oil from her coal supplies, thus adding to the stocks on hand. Professor Ban.se also said that “Italy depends on foreign imports of wool, cotton, coal, hides, and skins, timber, iron, copper, petrol, and heavy oil. Accordingly. Italy is not in an economic position to carry on a modern war without importing, and, further, the length of her coast-line places her at all times at the mercy of the strongest sea-power.” _ , ~. w To what extent Russia is assisting Germany with petroleum and heavy oil cannot be ascertained. But it appears to be reasonably definite that even if events came about whereby the whole of the Rumanian oil output were acquired by • the enemy, it would not prove to be nearly sufficient to meet their, needs to maintain a long war. . t No doubt Hitler, Goenng, and company under-rate the English nation, and therefore over-rate themselves, and thereby turn the odds of victory against themselves. Professor Banse who cannot be termed one-eyed, had well warned Hitlqr and company that “The English nation pursues its vital aims with bulldog pertinacity, and will never let its enemy go till it has laid him low.”—Yours, etc.,, &.3.C. September 18,1940.

Tons. U.S.A. .. 174,627,000 Russia .. 30.878,000 Venezuela .. 28,780,000 Iran . • .. 11,517,000 Rumania ,. 8,700,000 Mexico .. 4,977,000 Iraq 4,415.000 Trinidad .. 2,607,000 India and Burma 1,443,000 Canada .. 1,007.000 Germany ., 770,000 Poland ., 556,000 Italy .. 180,000 France 7,000 Other countries .. 20,542,000