LIBYA SUPPLIES

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21652, 12 February 1942, Page 6

LIBYA SUPPLIES

IN FRENCH SHIPS AVIATION GASOLINE SHIPPED TO TUNISIA (Omclal Wireless) (Received Feb. 12, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 11 At least 4000 tons of wheat monthly ■ —sufficient to feed ten or more divisions—have been shipped from French mainland ports to Tunisia (Tunis or Sfax) during the past three months for transport to Libya. These figures are given by an official of the Ministry of Economic Warfare who added that about 2000 hectolitres of wine (350,000 pints) have been crossing monthly and about 500 tons of olive oil. During the past few days five French ships are known to have sailed for Tunisia from Marseilles. They are the Saint Germain, Nantaise and Bourgaroni—all carrying Italian lorries—Saint Etinne, carrying provisions and lorries, and the Lacais Kabyle, carrying provisions. Two of these ships—those with saints’ names —are not French ships but one is a Norwegian and one a Danish (requisitioned and renamed by the French). Private Cars and Lorries French ships carried about 2000 tons of gasoline to Tunisia in December and about 1500 tons in January for transport to Libya. During the latter month 2000 tons of aviation spirit was also sent. Arrangements have been made for further deliveries. During 1941 nearly 2000 lorries and private cars have been sent from France to Libya by the same route. The ships bearing the supplies have returned to France laden with phosphates which are of great importance for soil fertilisation. About half the phosphate supplies have gone to the Axis. A Washington message says that Mr Sumner Welles, United States As-sistant-Secretary of State, today conferred with M. Henry Haye, Vichy Ambassador, who said he was confident that Vichy can justify itself against the charges that the French aid had been given the Axis forces in Libya.