LOSS TO GERMANY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20127, 22 December 1939, Page 8

LOSS TO GERMANY

SEIZURE OF CARGOES TOTAL OF 870,000 TONS SOME STRIKING FIGURES NOVEL ILLUSTRATION (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Jiritisli Ollieiul Wireless.) Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Dec. 21. Over 500,000 tons of contraband suspected of being destined for Germany has now been intercepted and detained by the British contraband control since the outbreak of war. During the week ended December 10, the British contraband control intercepted 20,280 tons, including 8995 tons of petroleum and allied products, 8000 tons of zinc concentrates, 0000 tons of ferro-nickel ore, 1318 tons of cotton, 370 tons of foodstuffs and beverages. 273 tons of resin, 173 tons of non-metallic products, and quantities of oils, fats, oil seeds, rubber, fibres, hides, and skins bring the total detained in the first 15 weeks of the war to approximately 510,000 tons.

It is understood that to December 17, the French contraband control had similarly detained a total of approximately 300,000 tons. The joint Allied total is thus some 870,000 tons. Since the beginning of the war the British contraband Committee has held 107 sittings and examined the cargoes of 303 British ships and neutral ships. Altogether. 06 cargoes have been wholly seized and 1039 cargoes wholly released. The following approximate figures give some illustration of the amounts detained. Taking the joint Allied total, 600 trains consisting of 30.000 trucks would be required to transport the amount of petroleum seized. Similarly. 640 trains consisting of 32.000 trucks would be needed to carry the various metals seized. To transport by rail all the contraband seized would require 115.500 trucks or 2330 trains. Thbse trucks, if coupled together into a continuous train, would occupy 600 miles of line—roughly equivalent to the distance from Hamburg to Vienna