Anglo-French Oil Supplies

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1939, Page 7

Anglo-French Oil Supplies

(Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, December 1

Some of the advantages of British and French economic co-ordination in respect of oil supplies are examined by expert writers in the press. By the pooling of trasnport, for example, it is pointed out that French requirements can be supplied from the Near East and Middle East, while Britain’s needs can be met to a far greater extent from sources in North America and South America. Supplies Ensured. The result will be more rational employment of the Atlantic tankers. In particular, the British forces in France will be able to draw supplies direct from Eastern forces. Another important gain is thought to be in the matter of refining, in connection with which the combination of the capacity of the two countries — France’s, which normally exceeds her own peacetime requirement, and Britain’s smaller refining system—should give very satisfactory results, and go a long way to ensuring that Allied demands for the finished products are met. It is stated that necessary sacrifices in civilian consumption can now be equitably shared by the population of the two countries. German Oil Shortage? Further, the improvement in the Allies’ position of relative oil supplies, which will result, according to these authorities (including a writer in the “Financial Times”), from the recent agreement, is all the more significant from reports that shortage of oil has made itself felt already in Germany. A suggestion appears in several neutral quarters that the comparative inactivity of the German air force in the west is due to heavy consumption of petrol supplies in the Polish campaign, and it is interesting to observe that this view is endorsed by the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times,” who said yesterday: “In the opinion of American naval and military experts, the oil situation, and especially the Reich’s reserve of fuel oil, is the most serious problem facing the Hitler Government today.”

Air-raid sirens were sounded in Turku, Finland’s second largest city, as the roar of high-flying aeroplanes was detected. Some Areas Occupied. Soviet aeroplanes partially destroyed several small Finnish towns above the Arctic Circle, in the vicinity of the Norwegian frontier. The majority of the reports confirm the Russian occupation of the port of Terijoki, on the Karelian Isthmus, and the island of Seiskari, in the Gulf of Finland. Some sources state that the Petsamo Peninsula, in the Actic, has been occupied, and that troops landed at the Finnish port of Hanko, on the Gulf of Finland, after an aerial bombardment. Russian warplanes carried the spearhead of the attack right to the Norwegian frontier, machinegunning civilian transport. Five women and children, caught thus, struggled to safety across the frontier. Russian Troops Halted. The first Finnish war communique stated that all Russian troops had been halted during yesterday. It denies that Finnish troops had crossed the Russian, frontier. The Finnish war communique last night stated that the invaders had been repelled at most points and prevented from advancing from the positions where they had gained a hold. Two tanks had been destroyed on the Karelian Isthmus, north of Leningrad. Attack Held Up. Here the Russians are reported to have carried the fight some miles into Finnish territory, but the latest advice received in the early hours of the morning was that the Finns were holding up the attack. On the eastern frontier the Russians are stated to have advanced some distance.

The only gain definitely made by the Red Fleet is the capture of a small island in the Gulf of Finland.

It is reported that the port of Hanko fs being heavily shelled from the sea. Firemen and ambulance men, searching since dawn for victims, found 13 bodies where a direct hit demolished two apartment houses. They discovered the corpse of Professor Sikonen, famous electro-techni-cal expert, amid the ruins of the high school.

Bombs went right through the highest building. A total of 100,000 citizens departed last night. There was no sign of panic. A Radio Service.

A priest held a radio service and exhorted all to do their duty to their pountry. Meanwhile the Hanko fortress undauntedly continues to .answer the fire from Soviet warships. Monastery Captured.

Russian troops captured a monastery at Petchenga, 10 miles south of Petsamo.

The Russians have completely taken the North Rybachi peninsula, but have been unable to advance further inland.