ALSACE AND LORRAINE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 19, 8 March 1918, Page 6

ALSACE AND LORRAINE.

WEALTH OF IRON DEPOSITS,

Tho significance of Alsace and Lorraine is described by a recent writer in the Atlantc Monthly as being far more than a matter restoring the integrity of France as is exhibited before 1870. Tho real situation is that Al-sace-Lorraine and the conquered lands of Northern Prance contain the greatest iron ore deposits in Europe. If Germany were to bo deprived of Al-sace-Lorraine, her power for evil in Europe would at once be cut off, because she would have no iron, in addition, valuable deposits of potash salts in Alsace add materially to the value of tho lost provinces, and in that degree complicate their relinquishment. When Moltke in 1870 insisted upon, and Bismarck against his bettor judgment assented to, the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine the main thought in their minds was that of securing a strategic frontier. They secured, though they did not know it at the time, something far more valuable than that. They secured the largest deposit of iron ore in Europe and the second largest in tho world, surpassed in value and extent only by tho Lake Superior deposit in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The soil of the lost provinces has made Germany fortunes. She has derived from it her metallurgical ascendancy, the motive power for her industries, her wealth, and as a consequence her naval, military and political power. The field extends beneath the portion of Northern Franco at present under German occupation. Suppose Germany were to win and were to annex the greater half of the ferruginous basin that lies on French soil. Territorially it would be a very small acquisition. -Economically its value would bo inestimable. It would mean that after the war Germany would be able to raise some 46,000,000 tons of iron ore a year, while tho French output would bo reduced to a bare 4,000,000 tons. Suppose, on the other hand, that tho allied victory is as complete as they all intend it shall be, and that Alsace-Lor-raine is restored to Pranco. Tim equation in that case would be almost precisely reversed. Pranco would he in a position to extract about 43.000,000 tons of ore a year, and Germany would have to remain satisfied with a maximum yield of some 8,000,000 tons. No blow could more effectually cripple Gorman industrialism, and with it Germany’s capacity to organise another war, than the loss of the Lorraine ore beds; and nothing could so certainly and so speedily re-establish the economic equilibrium of Prance as to regain possession of them. In tho fate of Al-sace-Lorraine there is involved nothing less than the industrial primacy of Europe.