SUPPLIES OF LEAD

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 198, 19 May 1941, Page 8

SUPPLIES OF LEAD

Britain' And Germany Compared

REICH’S DEFICIENCY

i British OtlichU Wireless.• (Received May 18, 9.15 p.m.) RUGBY, May 17. An important comparison of British and German supplies of lead is made in the weekly journal “Economist,” which says lead has always been one of the chief munition metals. Since the last war its importance in the armament indus ■ try has increased as the result oi mechanization.

Lead is used in the manufacture of electric batteries for aeroplanes, tanks, other military vehicles and warships. Tlie much increased firing power of machine-guns has caused a substantially increased demand for lead for the production of bullets.

Among the chief industrial countries directly or indirectly involved in the war, Germany finds it most difficult to cover her lead requirements. Germany and Austria together can produce some 100,000 metric tons of lead annually. Another 10.000 tons annually may be obtained from Boland, while Yugoslavia may lie able to supply 80,000 metric tons, provided tbe mines have been kept intact. Spain, normally a not insignificant lead producer, has hardly any exportable surplus at present. as Hie whole Spanish output is required at home. Russia is not selfsufficient in lead.

Compared with Germany's estimated minimum requirements of more than 300,000 metric tons annually, Hie supplies to wl>ich she has access thus appear seriously inadequate, even if allowance is made for the tonnage recovered from scrap.

Britain, on the other hand, while producing only about 40,000 metric tons of lead annually from domestic sources, has access to ample supplies abroad. The British Empire produces about 000,000 metric tons annually, the great bulk of which is refined near the mines. The Empire’s production is more than adequate for its needs. Indeed it exports a large quantity to the United States to make up the deficiencies of that country. Last year the United States produced 458,000 metric tons. Her consumption, on the other hand, was 625,000 tons, against less than 450,000 tons in 1939. This deficiency between domestic supplies and requirements, however, was fully made up by increased imports from foreign sources, chiefly Mexico ami territories in the British Empire.