RIGOROUS BLOCKADE

Evening Star, Issue 23374, 18 September 1939, Page 6

RIGOROUS BLOCKADE

ITALY DEEPLY CONCERNED WIDE EFFECT OF BRITISH MEASURES' ALL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WILL SUFFER NEW YORK, September 16. The New York ‘ Times ’ Rome correspondent says Italy is most worried concerning the effect of the French and British blockade. “ Italian commerce, and even the general welfare of nearly ail European Countries are going to suffer, whether they are belligerents or neutrals,” it is stated. It is realised that Britain intends unparalleled measures, and it is believed that the traditional rules of neutrality will not apply, and that nations will not be able to declare their neutrality and then help one side materially instead of militarily. Italy is convinced that Britain intends to apply different forms of blockade and search against European and American snips, being stricter with nations bordering Germany than with a country like Brazil. One of the main reasons why Italy stayed out of the Great War so long was her vulnerability to blockade. She has made enormous strides towards autarchy since 1935, and although she does not yet claim to be self-supporting her foodstuffs are suredGERMAN CDUNTERS "BACK-DOOR" OIL AND FOOD SUPPLIES NEW YORK. September 1(3. The New York ‘ Times ’ Berlin correspondent says that the Nazis are battering a direct road to Rumania and to Russia, on which is dependent the supply of Nazi oil and food, thereby defeating the British .blockade. Russia does not conceal her determination to provide Germany with overseas products, and Rumania has no choice. There has already _ been a, discussion regarding the rapid construction of an oil pipeline from Rumania to Germany for the purpose of assuring the continued operations of the German air force. Germany appears to be anxious not to emphasise the British blockade, the counterblockade, or the western fighting. The submarine campaign is not mentioned at all in the Press, except for rescues, showing the chivalry of submarine crews. Germany appears to be preparing, if necessary, to use the air force as°a blockading weapon. USEFUL CARGOES SEIZED GERMANY'S BIG DEFICIENCIES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 16. The German wireless is attacking the British “ blockade ” as illegal on the grounds that the contraband list included goods other than-armaments. It is a fact that the list describes foodstuffs and clothing as “ conditional contraband.” which means briefly that they will be seized only if there is reason to believe that they are likely to be used by the enemy for the purpose of war. This was the practice established during the last war, not only by the Government of Britain, but also by the United States. 'The importance to the German military machine of petroleum imports is well known, and the announcement made by the Ministry of Information that among the contraband consigned to Germany which has been seized during the week ended September 9 were cargoes of petroleum amounting to 29j00 tons, was of special interest. During the same period cargoes intended for Germany, which were intercepted, included also large quantities of iron ore, manganese ore, wood pulp, and phosphate. Germany before the war stated that she could supply about one-third only of her peace-time need of petroleum. Iron ore is another great deficiency, Germany depending on foreign sources for at least two-thirds of her requirements. Most of Germany’s manganese is imported, and phosphates are an essential fertiliser for which she is comTiletclv dependent on supplies from abroad. Many of the cargoes detained up to this date were consigned openly to Germany before the so that evidence of enemy destination was readily available. EXPLOSION ON FRENCH CRUISER NOT CAUSED BY TORPEDO HEAVY DEATH ROLL ABOARD PARIS, September 16. Jt has been officially stated that the French cruiser and minelayer Pluton suffered "an accident aboard .somewhere at sea, 100 sailors being killed. The details have not been revealed, r;l this much is made known, the French authorities said, in order to counteract a report that the warship was torpedoed. BLOWN UP WHILE LOADING CEUTA (Spanish Morocco), September 16. An unconfirmed message from Casablanca states that 1,000 men were killed or wounded when the Pluton was blown up while loading. One hundred of the crew of 424 are dead and the other casualties occurred on the docks. SUNK IMMEDIATELY ROME, September 16. A despatch from St. Louis, Senegal, states: “Travellers from Casablanca declared that a mine exploded while the Pluton was loading, causing the ship to sink immediately. Buildings in the city and on the outskirts were damaged.”