Evening journal., 1918-10-05
ALLIES BREAK GRIP
ON WAR RESOURCES
Iron. Coal and Oil Being
Torn from German
Hands
FRANCE ASSURED
OF FUEL SUPPLY


WASHINGTON, oct. 5.-German grip
on The natural resources OF Europe
already has been broken in the forward
sweep OF the victorious armies. The
very fruits for which the TeutOns made
war in both 1870 and 1914 have been
and are being wrcsted from them, ac-
cording to the experts on the industrial
side Of the war, who see i'm the devel-
opments OF the last few days far
reaching significance for the Entente
Allies.
From the very outset Of the war four
years ago, economists have recognized
that the fundamental purpose in the
military objective Of the Germans in
the western theatre was 90 get posses
sion Of the iron and coal mines OF
France. The Offensives against Paris,
the Channel ports and certain railroad
centres, while having great value from
a military standpoint. have been Of
secondary importance when compared
with the consolidation Of a new Ger
man boundary along the Hindenburg
line which would give the Kaiser
possession Of the best Of the French
iron and coal lands and reduce France
industrially TO the level OF a vassal
nation.
The collapse Of Bulgaria now makes
certain the retirement Of the Germans
from Rumania. Since the occupation
OF that country two years ago its nat
ural resources have been pillaged for
the aid OF the German armies and in
dustries. Bumanian oil wells-among
the richest and best i'm the wOrld-haye
furnished the oil and gasoline for auto
mobiles, motor trucks and airpanes in
the German military operations on the
western front. The loss Of these wells
at this stage OF the war is one OF the
heaviest blows that has fallen on the
Kaiser and is a military handicap Of
major proportions for the future.
With the occupation Of Serbia some
Of the greatest copper, lead and zinc
mines in the world have been deyel-
oped Rich in mineral resources, the
country virtually was undeveloped in
this respect when the Austrian fiat was
delivered late in i9ii. Hundreds Of
mines producing ores with which Ger
many IS carrying on the war are in
operation there now.
But with Bulgaria conquered, the
allied armies I'm the Balkans are free
20 turn their efforts against the Ger
mans holding Serbian soil.
The coal mines around Lens in
France have been recovered and those
near Laon are threatened by the ap-
preaching French and British armies.
Whether the mines have been destroyed
as the Germans retreated is OF little
consequence. The United states and
the Allies are in position to utilize
thousands Of prisoners Of war in re-
opening them without delay.
Gen. pershing Is now striking at the
German grip on the French iron miles
IN the Argonne and his long range guns
are within reach Of the iron mines
about Metz. Great quantities OF guns
and ammunitions which the Germans
have used in this war have been made
from ores produced I'm these mines.
Military officials in Washington see
an event Of singular interest in. the Of
fensive Of the Americans toward Metz
and other sections Of Lorraine. When
this State was seized by Wilhelm !, in
1870, he remarked that It's possession
was wanted by Germany for two rea-
sons-as a buffer between the TeulOns
and the French and because its iron re-
sources, would furnish the base for Ger
manys Industrial future.
He expressed the belief that the be-
lief Of France then would be cause for a
war Of vengeance against Germany
within a few decades, but regarded
future possession Of the iron mines as |
sufficient compensation for another con-
nict. These mines furnished much OF |
the material with which the German /
armies were equipped when they start !
cd the war in 1914.
Victory in the ArgOnnc and the re- |
covery OF the iron mines around Metz /
not only will open up a new supply OF /
raw mstrials Of great military value |
10 the Allies but will take from the |
Germans the fruits Of their victories /
forty-elght years ago and fedeats one OF |
The prime purposes for which another
war Of conquest was started four years
lgo.
Gcrmany's sustenancc in a military |
way for virtually three years has been
lrawn largely from occupied areas and /
sections Of country containing mineral
resources that were stolen from other
nations. Belgian factories were cou-
yerted to the production Of war ma
.erials near the theatre where the prin-
'ipal part Of the war would be fought
and the German factories were free to
urn out materials for use on the Rus
sian frontier.
RepOssession OF the coal mines OF
Lens removes the prospect Of a serious
'Oal shortage i'm France this winter.
Previous TO the outbreak Of the war the
,nnual coal production in France was
bout 30,OOO,OOO tons, but with the occu-
patton Of the coal fields in the north
his output was cut more than half.
scarcely a family in southern France
lad coal last winter for any purpose
,iher than cooking. Overcoats and
wraps were worn indoors and outdoors
md fires on hearths were almost un-
Known.
Much OF the coal with which French
OF war have been produced
anne from the English and Welsh
mines. Considerable ocean shipping has
'een tied mp in this coal traffic and the
e-Occupation of the Lens and Laon
rcas will release this tonnage for other
purposes.