THREAT OF FAMINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22063, 9 September 1941, Page 5

THREAT OF FAMINE

Nazis Have Looted Crops (Rec. 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 8. Reports state that Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and Greece have been plundered eompletely of crops, livestock and dairy produce. Famine is threatening even in the unoccupied territory of southern France. The Nazi ruthlessness is expected to reach unbearable severity in the coming winter in the occupied countries, where saboteurs and guerrillas are operating. How complete is the German looting of France is confirmed in reports reaching New York from branch managers to the head of the Bank of France. These reports disclose that the Nazis are stripping France by the purchase or confiscation of all cereals, butter, milk, eggs, livestock and wine.

The Nazis have shipped home 20,000 bottles of champagne and bought up the entire grape crop and requisitioned all the shipyards and steelworks in the Paris basin. They have also taken over 90 per cent of industry and bought the remainder with marks.

The Rome radio says the Germc.n Minister of Supply in a statement said foodstuffs would be plentiful in Europe in the coming winter. The* harvest in France was 20 per cent greater than last year. Half of Germany’s crops had been gathered in spite of adverse weather.