FRENCH BAUXITE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 14

FRENCH BAUXITE

INDUSTRY UNDER, GERMAN CONTROL. There are 116 exact figures giving tho world's production of uauxito (suys ;i "Times" correspondent), the ore which produces metallic aluminium. In 1911 tho output of Franco was estimated at 300,000 tuns and that of the United States 210,318 -tons. The richest oro and by far the most abundant deposits are found in France; in order ot quantity tho United States come next, followed by Ireland, Italy, India, Australia, and British liuiana. Tho most important deposits of bauxite in Franco avo found in the south-oast. Hitherto these have been exploited by tho Germans, largo quantities having been shipped to Germany for treatment, but. the greater part woro railed to Switzerland, whore tho Germans had constructed special works for the extraction of aluminium from the ore. The annual exportation under Geraau direction reached 250,000 tons.

The entiro control of this very valuable industry of the south of France by tho Touton is but another example of German duplicity. By continually maintiiiniug.that tourist traffic was the prime industry of tho Riviera, by declaring it to be tho only commercial asset of the littoral, and by emphasising the necessity of fostering it to the utmost, attention was diverted from the great mineral wealth of its hinterland, which for years Germany has exploited to her own advantage. Through disposing of the total output to the Germans, the latter have been enabled to accumulate iminonso stocks of aluminium, now particularly useful, and obtain tho -world's market for this metal. In so acting the French havo not proved thoinsolves more supine- than others with respect to similar industries; nevertheless it it wellnigh incomprehensible how the French could overlook the supreme advantago of retaining this industry in their own hands and treating the ore on the spot, for which there is every facility. Various, projects are contemplated for the future working of the bauxite deposits here. As they cannot be nllowed to again como nnder German control, there is an excellent opportunity for HieiT being acquired and worked under British management.