WAR MATERIALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1939, Page 8

WAR MATERIALS

SUPPLIES FOR GERMANY ATTACK ON MINISTRY OF INFORMATION Limitation by contraband CONTROL. WATCH ON NEUTRAL SHIPS. (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) -LONDON. September 13. Lord Stanhope, in the House of Lords, said the supply of Germany’s vital war materials carried under neutral flags “has been and will be increasingly limited by the contraband control imposed by the power of our fleet.” The British convoy system was operating with “increased efficiency every day. When it is fully operating, there is no reason to suppose that it will be less decisive than it was 20 years ago. German submarines are being constantly attacked and successes have been achieved.” Practically all German shipping, totalling around 1,105,000 tons at the outbreak of war, "has now been cleared from the high seas. The losses of British merchant shipping undoubted are somewhat severe. This can be expected, because many of the ships were scattered under peace time conditions. “The Germans had placed U boats and supply ships in the best strategic positions prior to the outbreak of War.” BRITAIN’S RIGHT ■STOPPING SHIPS AT SEA, (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. A Ministry of Information communique draws attention to Britain’s right to stop neutral merchantmen! on the high seas in order to determine their character and the nature of the occupation in which they are engaged. The communique states that the existence of this right is peremptorily required in order to enforce the control of neutral trade which belligerents ate permitted to exercise. BLOCKADE EFFECTS ADMITTED BY GERMANS. RUTHLESS WAR ON SHIPPING AS REPLY. (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, September 13. The “Berlingske Tidendses” Berlin correspondent says the Germans admit that they are in a serious position as a result of the blockade, but say the answer will be given by their submarines' unrestricted sinkings, putting neutrals in a hopeless position. SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS PRODUCTION ON FULL CAPACITY. INCREASING USE OF WOMEN IN FACTORIES. (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. In the House of Commons, the Minister of Supply, Mr Burgin, announced that all firms engaged in munitions had been asked to proceed on a basis of full capacity. Steps were being taken to expedite the construction of addi> tional plant for factories. The Ministry of Supply was seeking a maximum output in minimum time. The people engaged in munitions were serving the country well and it would not be in the national interest to disturb them unduly. Women would ultimately do a large proportion of the semi-skilled work.