Oil a Vital Need in Germany

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 100, 29 April 1941, Page 8

Oil a Vital Need in Germany

EFFECTS OF BLOCKADE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 25. Surveying- Germany’s commodity position in the light of the British blockade, the Minister of Economic Warfare, Dr. Hugh Dalton, said to-day that it was his conviction that the blockade, in conjunction with the armed forces, would be able to shorten the war and lessen the total cost in terms of human life and wealth. “We shall not be able to impose upon the enemy a shortage of iron or, therefore, steel,” he said. “On the other hand, there is a considerable shortage of the ferro alloys necessary for hardening steel, and this means poorer quality in German armaments. Fortunately, though they have much iron at their disposal, nickel and other important constituents are in short supply, and we have so far been able to put a pretty effective check upon reinforcements. , “There is no serious shortage of wheat in Germany or the occupied territory. Some of the slaves of Germany may be starving. That is the Germans’ fault. It is an idle dream to think that we can bring about breadless days in Germany. We may be able to enforce a monotonous diet upon the people, and that will have an effect in reducing their efficiency and lowering their morale. “Copper also Is short,” Dr. Dalton added, “together with tanning material and natural textiles. The Germans are living on their capital, and, providing certain conditions are satisfied, w© may confidently say that Germany will be feeling the pinch with regard to oil supplies at no very distant date.

“These conditions are that Germany acquires no new large sources of supplies, that Hitler’s armies continue to use up their oil at a reasonably rapid rate —the Balkans campaign will cost them a good deal of oil—that we continue to command the Eastern ranean, and that the R.A.F. shall continue to render valuable support by bombing synthetic-oil plants in Germany. More than half the current requirements of Germany are at present supplied from their own synthetic-oil factories.

“Our progress with regard to economic pressure is uneven, but in some groups it has become pretty severe. The .Navy and the R.A.F. are constantly giving the firmest support to our efforts.”