RESOURCES OF LEAD

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1941, Page 7

RESOURCES OF LEAD

Enemy at Disadvantage - ’ ■■ RUGBY, May"l7. An important comparison of British and German supplies of lead :s 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 industry has increased as a result of mechanisation. Lead is used in the manufacture of electric batteries for 'aeroplanes. tanks, other military vehicles and warships. The 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 br indirectly involved in war, Germany finds it most difficult to cover lead requirements. Germany and Austria together can produce some hundred thousand metric tons of lead annually. Another ten thousand tons annually may be obtained in Poland, while Yugoslavia may be able' to supply eighty thousand metric tons, ; provided the mines have been kept intact. Spain normally is not an insignificant lead producer. She has hardly any exportable surplus at present, as the whole Spanish output is required at home. Russia is not self-sufficient in lead. Compared with Germany’s estimated minimum requirements of over three hundred thousand metric tons annually, supplies to which she has access thus appear seriously inadequate, even if allowance is made for tannage recovered, from scrap. Britain, on the other hand, , while producing only about forthy thousand metric tons of lead annually from domestic sources, has access to ample supplies abroad. The British Empire produces about six hundred thousand 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 deficiences in that country. Last year the United States produced 458 thousand metric tons. Its .consumption, on tne other hand, is 625 thousand tons, against less than 450 thousand tons in 1939. This deficiency between domestic supplies and requirements, however, was fully made up by increased imports from foreign sources, chiefly Mexico and territories in the British Empire.