BLOCKADE EFFECT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 250, 16 December 1940, Page 2

BLOCKADE EFFECT

BELTS TIGHTENED FOR ONE MORE YEAR Britain must tighten its belt for at least,another year in its struggle against Germany, but if it does this successfully it can then expect notable results from the policy of the combined blockade and the air raiding it is now pursuing. This estimate is published in London upon what is recognised in informed circles as high authority.- 'It is the outcome of an expert invesr tigation conducted in connection with Oxford University by Mr R. W. S. Clarke, lately assistant editor of "the London Financial News, who has now joined the Ministry of Economic Warfare. Food. Situation Satisfactory. Mr Clarke lias examined all factors affecting Britain's blockade of the,enemy's territory under present results in one of a series of Oxford; Pamphlets on World Affairs. He finds the situation such that there need be--no acute food scarcity er in Germany or in any enemyoccupied territories unless Berlin itself should precipitate such catastrophe by failing to allow an equal distribution of available supplies. On the other hand he finds that raw materials necessary for continuance of the enemy's active warfare are beginning to be curtailed as the result of Britain's blockade, strengthened as it now is by sustained bombings of enemy munition works, storage tanks and transport centres. Vital Products Involved. Oil, copper, and alloy metals, also textiles, and rubber, are especially involved* 1 Mr Clarke concludes that although until right up to the end of 1941 the combined Avar effort of. Germany and. Italy may not be decisively impaired, a substantial deterioration may be looked for somewhat earlier than that date.

From the summer of 1941 onward, lie says, open weaknesses may begin to develop, and by 1942 the position of the Axis PoAvers may have been weakened enough to enable Britain to take an offensive upon a decisive scale.