GERMAN BLOCKADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 43, 25 January 1944, Page 8

GERMAN BLOCKADE

SMUGGLERS' DEVICES

USE OF NEUTRAL SHIPPING

Writing from London the correspondent of the Christchurcli Press h sends the following interesting story P of the methods adopted to smuggle y goods into Germany:— 1 The never-ending light against 1 enemy smugglers is organised; by the Ministry of Economic Warfare,, c using the air and sea forces to o j watch for attempts to get valuable cargoes into Europe. Ita November last live, ships plying between Buenos Aires and Spain were halted at British control points for search, with the following almost melodramatic results:—■ 1 Forty drums stated on navicerts f as containing paste were found full) 5 of liver extract,, an important base 1 in food, compound for Ulboat crews, j Twelve drums had false bottoms j smeared with putty and embedded i in each was a disc of platinum j three inches in diameter, one; quar-< ter of an inch thick, and weighing a pound. They are worth more than 4000 dollars apiece. What is far more important, however, is that they are worth a king'-s ramson to the Germans as a factor in the \ manufacture of nitro glycerine for ; explosives. i Wrongly Certified Also in the cargoes were six tons certified as bacteriological peptone, when in fact they were stuffed with small containers of glandi extract powder for the treatment of shock. In making public their discovery the British showed what they and the Americans with whom they are in close touch are up against as well as indicating how the system is working. When the enemy had the Latin airline from South America to Italy to rely on, it was a tremendous asset for the reason that the; articles, in greatest demand.were easily shipped by air; industrial diamonds, mica, platinum and drugs. Now this traffic is being attempted by smuggling aboard neutral ships. Victims of Trickery Emphasis is placed, here on the possible innocence, of .ship owners, masters' and crew members. Often 1 they are victims of German trickery., say officials of the Ministry. The Lati air-line, last regular channel open to the enemy, has been - closed down for months and the i smuggling business is being slowly , squeezed out* Tha Government's reason for black-listing the Swiss armament - firm of Sulzer Brothers 1 recently - was explained, in the House, of Comi mons by Mr Dingle Foot, Parliar mentary Secretary for tiic Ministry - of Economic Warfare,, who said: — 1 ''The firm was invited to sign an J undertaking that it would conlinc 1 deliveries to Axis countries of ma- j • f tcrials other than arms or muni- - tions or Diesel engines to a normal x pre-war volume. This they refused to do and there was no option but to include their name on the statutory list." There are now 1164. Swiss firms r blacklisted, he announced, and addS ed: [1 "I would like to make it clear that il" the lirrns and traders in European - countries should not too' hastily as-: sume. that when the armistice is signed we will at once forget those who have- elected to assist our cnemics."