FRENCH SUPPLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1942, Page 3

FRENCH SUPPLIES

SHIPMENTS TO LIBYA 4000 TONS OF WHEAT. MINISTRY GIVES FIGURES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 11. At least 4000 tons of wheat a month—sufficient to feed 10 or more divisions—have been shipped fromFrenchmainland ports to Tunisia (Tunis or Sfax) during the past three months, for transport to Libya. These figures were given by an official in the Ministry of Economic Warfare. He added that about 2000 hectolitres of wine (350,000 pints) had been crossing every month, and about 500 tons of olive oil. During the past few days five French ships were known to have sailed for Tunisia from Marseilles. They were the St. Germain, Nantaise and Bourgaroni, all carrying Italian lorries, the Saint Etienne carrying provisions and lorries, and the Lacais Kabyle carrying provisions. Two of these ships—those with Saints’ names —were not originally French ships, one being Norwegian and one Danish (requisitioned and renamed by the French). French ships carried about 2000 tons of gasoline to Tunisia in December, and about 1500 tons in January, for transport to Libya. During the latter month 12000 tons of aviation spirit were also sent. Arrangements had been made for further deliveries. During 1941 nearly 2000 lorries and private cars were sent from France to Libya by the same route. The ships bearing the supplies had returned to France laden with phosphates ,which were of great importance in soil fertilisation. About half the phosphate supplies had gone to the Axis.