GERMANY NEEDS METAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2367, 25 January 1915, Page 6

GERMANY NEEDS METAL

'ACUTE LEAD SHORTAGE. According to statements forwarded from London extracted from tho "Berliner Lokal Anziger," there was an acute shortage of metals in Germany as long ago as November last. Tho situation must of necessity have become more acuto in tho interim, and the position indicated makes it abundantly clear why the Allies are taking sveh stringent measures to prevent the' exportation of the industrial metals, especially lead, to Germany through i;eutral ports. Aftor stating tJiat silver is urgently needed owing to the failure of the American supply, the report in question proceeds—"Lead is at a premium. Tho public is urged to hwid in plate, medals, silver ornaments, tottlo stoppers, and even load soldiers. An office has been established in Berlin Tor receiving contributions. Ilie metal thus received is sont to the.State loi-ii-dr.v at Jfreiberg, in Saxony, .vhero it is cast into ingot form. Appeals have been made to school child-.'en to sacrifice their lead toys for the purpose, a lact which clearly points to the serums dearth of lead in Germany."

London advices are to the effect that the prices 'for lead have nsen considerably in Germany, cutting off imports being a serious matter. Quotations are about £25 to £26 a ton delivered. In 1913 German imported 84,000 tons, and in 1912 94,000 tons, while for tho first half of 1914 tho total was 29,000 tc2is. Ore production in tho Un.'ted States is believed to have been reduced fdHv 40 por cent, sinco July. The .'oad stocks there at the end of A'.v ist ore given, as 6855 tons, an increase ou vuo mouth of about 870 tons. The "Frankfurter Zeitunn'' xemarks that Germany "normally consumes 24,000 tons of lead a month, of which 13,500 tons come from native ores, and 8500 tons from imports. Of the imports 3300 tons a month have been supplied from what aro now enemy countries. Consumption has increased owing to war needs, and prices risen on tho growing scarcity." ■