MATERIALS FOR WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 11

MATERIALS FOR WAR

ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS ANGLO-AMERICAN ADVANTAGE LONDON, June 5. “ The United States, by its supplies of petrol and its motor manufacturing, and the British Empire, by its maritime supremacy, remain masters.” This is the opinion expressed by Genera] Serigny, of France, in an article in the Revue des Deux Mondes. on petrol and motorisation in a world war. In spite of appearances, the writer holds, force is on the side of the liberal, democratic nations. Dissension alone could bring catastrophe. He points out that America produces three-fourths of the world’s oil and that Russia and Rumania are the only European countries with important production, though he draws attention to Germany’s nroduction of oil from coal Discussing sea-carriage. General Serigny says Norway’s tanker tonnage is 1,856,250, as compared with Britain’s 2,886,864, America’s 2,575,199, Italy’s 356,864, France’s 241,880, and Germany’s 159,995 Germany’s needs in the first year of a war, he estimates at 12,000,000 tons. Germany’s output in 1937, including Austria, was 485,000 tons. Poland’s output was 510,000, Russia’s 28,500,000, Rumania’s 8,700,000, and France’s 80,000. Germany’s army marches on motor engines. Vehicles built in 1937 were:— United States, 4.810,000; Britain, 508,000; Germany, 345,000; France, 207,000; Russia, 200,000; Italy, 77,000; Canada, 207,000.