IN DIRE STRAITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1943, Page 3

IN DIRE STRAITS

ITALY’S ECONOMIC . PLIGHT

SERIOUS SHORTAGES OF FOOD & COAL.

INFORMATION REACHING UNITED STATES.

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) NEW YORK, June 8.

Italy's economic weaknesses are indicated in the latest reports reaching Washington on the food situation, coal and labour shortages and the inflationary effects of war finance, says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” All the evidence reveals a severe shortage of food as a result of the large quantities sent to Germany, though 1.000.000 acres of grassland have been ploughed for food production.

The rations indicate that Italy’s food consumption is about two-fifths of the normal and thus about half the minimum required for health and efficiency. Germany has been unable to send 1,000.000 tons of coal a month to Italy as agreed. Milan’s coal ration last winter was 20 per cent, of normal. Labour and transportation shortages have the small domestic coal and lignite output. It is estimated that the loss of more than 300,000 Italian workers who have been sent to Germany is serously affecting Italy’s war industries. One quarter of the employees of Turin factories are inexperienced women. It is suggested in some quarters in Washington that Italy’s economic weakness might lead her to capitulate in order to obtain help from the Allies, but some protest against the use of Allied shipping to supply Italy if she surrenders, contending that this shipping would be more justly used to feed those who did not fight on Hitler’s side.