GERMAN DEMANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23343, 11 May 1939, Page 13

GERMAN DEMANDS

TRADE OF LITHUANIA NO NEW INDUSTRIES RECIPROCAL. IMPORT BASIS MEMEL AS ONLY SEAPORT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright KAUNAS, May 9 The Lithuanian delegation has returned from Berlin. Germany is reported to have demanded that 45 per cent of Lithuania's exports be directed to Germany in return for corresponding imports, also that Lithuania's entire sea trade should go through Memel. Lithuania must not build her own port. It was suggested that Lithuania should not build new industries in her own territory, but use those in Memel, which have been handed over to Germany.

MAGINOT LINE BRITISH INSPECTION STAFF MISSION IN FRANCE COMMANDER AT ALDERSHOT (Received May 10, C.15 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, May O A British military mission, headed by Lieutenant-General Sir John Dill, commander-in-chief at Aldershot, which is at present in France, to-day began

an inspection of the northern section of the Maginot Line, in the company of General Gamelin and other French staff officers. The German Foreign Minister, Herr von Bibbentrop, has arrived at Munich and will see Herr Hitler later. Field-Marshal Goering has left San Remo, Italy, for Spain, escorted by two destroyers.

GERMAN AIRCRAFT INCREASING PRODUCTION 1200 A MONTH CLAIMED . ... .LONDON, May 5 The Manchester Guardian quotes Field-Marshal Goering as saying that Germany's monthly output of aeroplanes has reached about 1200, which is twice that of the output last July. German factories began working two 3.0-hour shifts daily last August. This increased production to more than 900 a month. In January, three eighthour shifts were worked daily, producing a further increase of aeroplanes. Field-Marshal Goering is stated to have added that Germany had 300 squadrons, of which 170 were bomber units, and that the Air Force personnel totalled 350,000.

Except as regards monthly production, these figures tally fairly closely with recent carefully considered estimates.

ASSET TO REICH SKODA ARMS FACTORY USE IN TRADE BARGAINING LONDON, May 5 Germany's possession of the vast supplies of the Skoda arms factories, which Germany acquired by her Czech coup, and which Herr Hitler mentioned in liis recent speech to the Reichstag, is apparently proving a useful asset in the trade contest now being waged, in South-East Europe.

Germany does not want this booty, because if she equipped her divisions with it, it would complicate supply problems, detract from the Reiehswehr's great mobility, and rob the Reichswehr of one of its greatest advantages, compared with a combination of the allies—namely, the Beichswehr's possession of standard equipment on all fronts.

Consequently the Czech booty is more useful on the trade than on the military front, enabling Germany apparently to outbid Britain in both Yugoslavia and Rumania, where Germany is offering net credits in the usual sense. The captured armaments, however, are incidentally securing customers for the Skoda works, upon which Rumania, Yugoslavia, or any other purchasers of Herr Hitler's booty would be dependent for further supplies. Both the Yugoslavian and Rumanian armies are equipped with a variety of types of small arms and guns, including Skoda products.

CREAM PROHIBITED NEW GERMAN DECREE AUTHORITIES' REASONS LONDON, May 5 The winter ban on tho sale of all types of cream in Germany has been prolonged by decree until October 14 for the purpose of increasing the butter supplies, says the Berlin correspondent of tho Times. The decree says vendors can be punished by fines or imprisonment and explains that the measure is justified on social grounds because more people eat butter than cream. The correspondent adds that the ban is due to the prevalence of foot and mouth disease, which has also resulted in a shortage of meat, except pork. It is rumoured that meat ration cards will shortly be issued.