How Nazi War Machine Suffers

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 7

How Nazi War Machine Suffers

LIKELY TO PROVE DECISIVE (British Official Wireless.) Received Wednesday, 7.20 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 19. The relentless pressure which the Allied contraband control is exercising upon the economic resources behind the Nazi war machine is indicated in reports, based on statistics of world production in 1937, which have been compiled by economic experts in London. From these it is apparent that 100 per cent, of the world production of molybdenite, vanadium, rubber, copra, palm oil and ground nuts is no longer available to Germany while the same is true of 99.9 per cent, of tne world production of tin, 99 per cent, of tungsteD, 96.5 per cent, of nickel and approximately 9 per cent, of copper; 88.75 per cent, of world cotton supplies and 86.3 per cent, of wool supplies are also beyond her reach. Even if the Nazi claims that Russia will be able to provide her with iron orefi Manganese, asbestos, phosphates and fodder, and that she can draw from other neighbouring countries whale oil. petroleum and antimony, were substan tiated, tho deficiencies which have already been mentioned are likely in the view of British experts to prove decisive. Their importance in relation to the war effort which the Nazi Government is imposing on its economy is obvious. Copper, tin, nickel, molybdenite and vanadium are vital alloys used in hardening steel for various purposes in manufacture. Cotton linters are important in the manufacture of explosives. Rubber plays a bigger and bigger part as the war is mechanised and the German substitute (buna) is known to be only satisfactory for certain purposes besides being uneconomic to produce. Tho ultimate effectiveness of the Allied contraband control is therefore unaffected by the possibility of trade with her immediate neighbours through the Balkans which remain open to Germany.