NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 289, 4 September 1942, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

It has been estimated that the Axis forces in North Africa are made up of twelve divisions —four armoured and eight infantry. That is a big force to supply across waters where British naval and air units can operate, and the ports can be subjected to systematic bombing. It could hardly be supplied by land for it is some hundreds of miles to Tripoli, the chief Italian-base, and the reported use of shallow-draught barges to bring supplies along to Tobruk and other small ports indicates the difficulties confronting Rommel’s army. The Italians may be running seriously short of shipping of any kind. It has been reported that two-thirds of their merchant fleet has been either damaged or destroyed, the total Axis losses in the Mediterranean being 2,360,000 tons. When to them are added the losses sustained elsewhere, including the larger ships lying in neutral ports, there cannot be any very large number of merchant vessels available. Our submarines are taking steady toll, and the bombers claim victims fairly regularly, so that, in spite of the shorter lines of communication across the Mediterranean, the means of supply to Rommel must be getting somewhat precarious. And supplies must be maintained. There can be no possibility of any army living on the country anywhere along El Alamein line.

Figures in the annual report of the Labour Department do not indicate the serious drainage of manpower that might have been expected in the third year of war. The number of factories registered, and many of them are very small establishments, has fallen by 421 since 1938-39, and the number of male employees has increased by about 2800 in the same period, evidence of the effects of the direction of labour and the growth of war industries. The total number of employees is up by more than 10,000, showing to some extent the larger part played by women in the industrial life of the Dominion. It is the cumulative disproportionate effect of military requirements that has created the greatest difficulties, for some branches of employment call for men. young and fit. and when they enter camp they cannot be replaced. The total figures may not. give a correct, indication of the pressure in some industries, and the annual report mentions half a dozen in which long hours have had to be worked. The report quotes the findings of the British Industries Health Research Board that “over an extended period weekly working hours should not exceed 60 for men and 55 for women.” In the margin between those limits and the average hours worked in the Dominion the country may have a reserve of productive capacity that will be of invaluable assistance in putting to the best uses the manpower and woman-power available.