FOOD INTO MUNITIONS

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1941, Page 6

FOOD INTO MUNITIONS

WHY GERMANY LETS EUROPE STARVE. [By Knob-Turner.] The Nazis have plundered Europe of foodstuffs, and one feature of their victims’ larders has been the frantic search for fats. Germany has not taken food merely to fatten Hitler’s Aryan followers. Food can be made part of the munitions drive. If the conquered states starve, Germany will not mind so long as she can secure what she wants. Fats: In general, all fats can be' turned into glycerine and nitro-gly-cerine for explosives. Indirectly feeding-stuffs provide a source of animal fats, while oilseeds also yield vegetable fats. The German news service announced in October, 1940, that a factory was being established to make glycerine out of fish oils. Animal fats can also be used as lubricating oils. Grain and Potatoes: Starch can be used for the production of alcohol, which is a fuel for tanks and lorries as well as a solvent for high explosives. Thus 110 tons of potatoes would make 10 tons of alcohol which would free approximately 7 tons of petrol for other purposes, such as aeroplane fuel. For several years there has been in Italy a law making it compulsory to mix alcohol with petrol. In 1937 the aim was 20 per cent, of alcohol, but this proportion could be raised. Foods of the starchy group can also be used to yield acetone and glycerine. Milk: Plastic products and fibre can be derived from the casein manufactured from milk. Nitro-glycerine can be obtained from the fats contained in the milk. The Netherlands exports of condensed and dried milk which formerly went to Britain are now—on a reduced scale due to shortage of feeding stuffs—available to the Nazis. It must be remembered that foodstuffs not directly or easily convertible for war purposes may be used as a substitute for foods which are. Thus meat contains a certain percentage of fats which would free other fats to be turned into explosives. Greater use of vegetables would probably reduce the human consumption of potatoes. Grain is not only directly convertible, but it is also a food substitute for potatoes. Butter is a substitute for other fats. As Minister of Shipping, Mr. Ronald Cross, stated in a broadcast to America’ on December 11, 1940: “By letting in one form of food which simply enabled the Germans to have more of other forms of food which could be spared and used directly or indirectly for the purpose of killing our own people.”