WHEAT FOR GERMANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 268, 13 November 1945, Page 5

WHEAT FOR GERMANY

SWITCH FROM BRITAIN

FOOD SITUATION MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER Recd. 10 p.m. .London, Nov. .12 rhe Chancellor of the Duchv o* Lancaster. Mr. J. B. Hynd lhe Minister responsible for the British section of the Control Councils in Austria and Germany, disclosed that 122,500 '.ons of wheat, earmarked lor Britain, is being sent to Germany from the United States to maintain German rations, following an appeal by l-'ielu Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery. He added that the wnea was coming from the central 000 l in Ihe United States. German -"al exports will pay for it. Sixty thousand -ons of wheat are expected by the middle of November and lite rest by November 30. In addition 50,000 tons of potatoes are being sent immedia.ely to Germany from Britain and at least 10,000 held ration packs. "Tile packs were obtained mainly by raiding quartermaster." stores in a worldwide search, which is still golm- on " Mr. vynd said. He s.ressed tile tact that it was necessary to feed Germany to get German coal.

"The food situation is now more critical than at any time since we entered Germany,’’ said Field-Marshal Montgomery at a Press conference. "The British occupation troops are now deployed for the battle of winter in their two-fold task of maintaining order in the Brit.sit zone under hard conditions, and giv.ng all possible assistance to the military government. Coal production is rising satisfactorily, but transport difficulties are oreventing distribution. We should be able to say bv March or April that the battle of the winter has been won. “The German population at present is outwardly docile and well behaved, but it is impossible to estimate what will be the ffect on them of a shortage of food and fuel under the rigorous conditions of winter. We cannot afford to take risks, as an outbreak of civil disturbance might disastrously affect the country’s recovery. The British army therefore must riot on I protect military installations and other vulnerable points, but also be ready to provide additional guards for food and coal dumps, vital road and rail bridges and telephone exchanges, many qf which at present are guarded by German police. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.

“There are also 500,000 former members of the Wehrmacht and 50,000 civilian internees to be guarded, beside the sick and wounded in military hospitals. The demobilisation of the Wehrmacht itself is a process for which British troops are essential. The army, moreover, is the body chiefly responsible for carrying out the demilitarisation of Germany, involving a search of the whole zone for war material, demolishing fortifications and other works, which will continue throughout the winter. In addition the army is helping the military government in reconditioning and maintaining the telephone network, opening up inland waterways, moving displaced persons and distributing fuel. These responsibilities demand the presence in Germany of a considerable number of British soldiers, particularly officer.., this winter.”