HITLER’S GAMBLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 7

HITLER’S GAMBLE

DRIVE IN WEST COMPELLED TO ACT ECONOMIC BLOCKADE FAILING RESOURCES SPECTRE OF WINTER (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 3 p.m. RUGBY, May 22. It is the opinion of economic experts that Herr Hitler has been impelled to make what looks like an immense gamble in the offensive on the Western Front by the fact that he cannot see his way through another winter. It is evident that the Allied economic warfare has made its mark on Germany. In the case of the food, available supplies probably are sufficient for the territory of the old Reich, but the problem now is complicated by the invasion of other countries. Both Belgium and Holland are highly industrialised and densely populated and far from self-sufficient. Considerable damage has been done in the agricultural areas of Holland and probably Germany, instead of obtaining supplies from this source as in the past, will have to assist the Dutch to feed themselves. The Belgian population has always been extremely dependent on overseas imports for food. Smaller Harvest At the same time, Germany is faced with a considerably smaller haryest than last year, not only through tlie effect of the winter or autumn sowirig, but also the destruction of corn in eastern districts by flooding after heavy snowfalls. The prospects for importing food are affected by the diminution of the Russian acreage sown. To April of 1940, this is one-third of what it was in April of 1939. The Balkan harvest prospects of maize and oil-producing seeds is equally poor. Denmark’s grain crop is not encouraging and that country is suffering from a shortage of feeding stuffs. Foot and Mouth Disease Reports have also been received of serious foot and mouth disease in Germany and a scarcity of the necessary vaccine, while the authorities at the same time are unwilling to isolate whole districts as was done in Britain for various reasons, including the fear of immobilising labour. German agriculture also has to cope with a shortage of labour and problems arising from a shortage of petrol affecting the mechanisation of farming. There is likely to be a lack of the usual immigrant farm labour for harvest from Italy, Hungary and the neighbouring countries, although this voluntary labour would be made up as far as possible. It is believed that the German population is generally showing the effects of serious deterioration of labour conditions since the war began. Civilians also are affected by a shortage of trained doctors. The number of registered medical practitioners in 1939 gave only five doctors to 10,000 of population, compared with 11 in Britain.