LITTLE GAIN FOR NAZIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 94, 23 April 1940, Page 5

LITTLE GAIN FOR NAZIS

NORWAY IS NOT RICH IN METALLIC MINERALS ALTERNATIVES TO BRITAIN f British (Official WircteM. I RUGBY, April 21. “Contrary to the general impression, Norway is not particularly rich tn metallic minerals,” says the Economist in discussing the possible German gains in the way of metals by establishing control in Norway. “With no coke resources lo wairant 'e foundation of a large-scale iron and steel industry, Norway must export her ore, and she is only a minor producer and shipper of pig iron and steel. On the other hand. Norway is an important producer of refined non-ferrous metals such as copper, zinc, aluminium, and nickel. Of these Britain has alternative sources of supply. But as Norway has to import most of her ore, Germany would gain little, even if she succeeded in seizing the smeltens and refiners south of Trondheim. "In the case of zinc Norway imports about nine times as much or? as she produces, and in th? case of nickel ore the vast bulk cf the primary material is imported from Canada. The considerable Norwegian production of aluminium is entirely based on bauxite supplies from abroad, and Germany cannot got enough bauxite for own works. Without lhe necessary foreign supplies of chrome ore, manganese orc. or wolfram Norway’s production of <he typical ferro-alloys used in steel-mak-ing must fall to zero, for Germany cannot fill the gap. "In short, while the loss of the iron ore imports from Narvik may be decisive for Germany, her temporary control of Norway’s metal industries south of Trondheim would not assist her war effort to any significant extent or cripple Britain’s.**