GERMAN SEARCH FOR METAL

Southland Times, Issue 24114, 1 May 1940, Page 7

GERMAN SEARCH FOR METAL

REMOVAL OF IRON GATES ORDERED ZURICH, April 29. The German Government has ordered the removal of all iron gates and garden fences throughout Germany and the confiscation of all metal door handles is expected. A British Official Wireless message says that the attention of the British Press is again being directed to the effect of the invasion of Norway on Germany’s supplies of iron ore. This subject is also attracting attention in the newspapers of certain neutrals and prominence is given in London to a carefully balanced survey in the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano. It points out that in 1938 Germany produced 11,000,000 tons of the 33,000,000 tons she required. Of the 22,000,000 tons she hitherto had obtained from abroad some 1,000,000 tons came from Norway and 9,000,000 tons from Sweden. The blockade of Narvik and the destruction of the railway to Kiruna have paralysed traffic. The Rotterdam correspondent of The Times says that the Reich Coal Commissioner, Herr Paul Walter, has appealed to householders and owners of theatres and restaurants to cease heating their premises. He urged the importance of restricting the consumption of coal on the home front in order to relieve the transport system and also to enable Germany to fulfil her contract to supply Italy with 12,000,000 tons annually. The authorities are doing their utmost to combat the inevitable shortage next winter. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says that the petrol shortage continues to drive cars from the streets throughout Germany. The result of the latest restriction is that 25 per cent, of the remaining cars, including taxis, are laid up in many cities. Only 1000 taxis remain in Berlin.

OPPOSITION INFORMED ON WAR SITUATION

(British Official Wireless) RUGBY, April 29. Mr C. R. Attlee and Mr Arthur Greenwood (leader and deputy-leader of the Labour Party) met the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) today in continuance of the practice, of keeping the Leaders of the Opposition informed on the war situation.. Mr Chamberlain later saw the Liberal leader in the House of Lords and Sir Percy Harris, who represented the Liberal Leader in the House of Commons, Sir Archibald Sinclair being in Scotland.