The sun., 1918-10-05
ALLIES BREAK GRIP
ON WAR RESOURCES
Iron, Coal and Oil Fields Rap
idly Being Torn From
German Hands.
FRANCE ASSURED OF FUEL
Mines Around Lens Will Re-
lieve Tons Of Shipping
for Other Uses.
Special Despatch TO TIE Sun.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 4.-Germsny's grip
on the natural resources OF Europe al
ready has been broken in the forward
sweep Of the victorious armies. Tho very
fruits for which the Teutons made war
In both 1870 and 1914 have been and
are being wrested from them, according
TO tho experts on the Industrial side
OF the war, who see in the developments
OF the last few days far reaching sig
nificance for the Entente Allies.
From the very outset OF the war four
years ago economists have recognised
that the fundamental purpose in tho
military objective of the Germans in the
western theatre was to get possession 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 i'm
portance when compared with the con-
solidation Of a new German boundary
along the Hindenburg line which would
give the Kaiser the possession of the
best OF the French iron and coal lands
and reduce France industrially to the
level Of vassal nation.
Rumania to Re Cleared.
The collapse of Bulgaria now makes
certain the retirement Of the Germans
from Rumania. Since the occupation OF
that country two years ago its natural
resources have been pillaged for the aid
Of the German armies and industries.
Rumanian oil wells--among the richest
and best in the world-have furnished
the oil and gasolene for automobiles,
motor trucks and airplanes in the Ger
man 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 pro-
portions for the future.
With the occupation of Serbia some OF
the greatest copper. lead and zinc mines
in the world have been developed. Rich
in mineral resources, the country vir-
tually was undeveloped in this respect
when the Austrian fiat was delivered
late in July Of 1914. Hundreds of mines
producing ores with which Germany is
carrying on the war are in operation
there now.
But with Bulgaria conquered the al
lied armies in the Balkans are free to
turn their efforts against the Germans
holding Serbian soil.
The coal mines around Lens in France
have been recovered and those near
Laon are threatened by the approach
ing French and British armies. Whether
the mines have been destroyed as the
Germans retreated Is OF little conse-
quence. The United States and the AL
lies are in position to utilize thousands
OF prisoners of war in reopening them
without delay.
Gen. Pershing Ia now striking at the
German grip on the French iron mines
in the Argonne and his long range guns
are within reach Of the iron mines about
Metz, Great quantities Of guns and mu-
nitions which the Germans have used
in this war have been made from ores
produced in 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 Teutons
and the French and because its iron re-
sources would furnish the base for Ger
many's industrial future.
Takes Fruits of 1870 Victory.
He expressed the opinion 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-
flct. These mines furnished much Of the
material with which the German armies
were equipped when they started the
war in 1914.
Victory In the Argonne and the re-
covery OF the iron mines around Metz
not only will open up a new supply OF
raw materials OF great military value
to the Allies but will take from the
Germans the fruits OF their victories
forty-eight years ago and defeats one of
the prime purposes for which another
war Of conquest was started four years
ago
Germany's sustenance in a military
way for virtually three years has been
drawn largely from occupied areas and
sections OF country containing mineral
resources that were stolen from other
nations. Belgian factories were con-
verified to the production OF war ma
terials near the theatre where tho prin-
cipal part Of the war would be fought
and the German factories were free to
turn out materials for use on the Rus
sian frontier.
VIII Release Much shipping.
Reposse ssion of the coal mines OF
Lens removes the prospect of a serious
coal shortage in France this winter.
Previous to the outbreak OF the war the
annual coal production In France was
about 10000 900 tons. but with the occu-
patton of the coal fields in the north
this output was cut more than half.
Scarcely a family in southern France
had coal last winter for any purpose
other than cooking. Overcoats and
wraps were worn indoors and outdoors
and fires on hearths were almost I'M
known.
Much OF the coal with which French
munitions of war have been produced
came from the English and Welsh mines.
Considerable ocean shipping has been
tied up in this coal traffic and the re-
occupation OF the Lens and Laon areas
will release this tonnage for other pur-
poses.