Evening star., 1938-12-25

several cases, they find that the bigger
the credits the more the necessity of ac-
cepting anything and everything in order
to reduce the total.
Here enters still another astute Ger
man idea.
Persuaded to Take Arms.
Some countries which have allowed
their credits to accumulate have been
persuaded to take them in German arm
aments and other war supplies. I was
told in the Balkans that much Of this
equipment is stuff that has been dis
carded by Germany as out of date
This scheme not only allows the
fatherland to get rid of unwanted things
Of this sort. but it cuts lot deeper than
that. 1t tends to make these small coun-
tries dependent on Germany for future
military supplies, since it would be diff
fcult to replace the German make in
other countries. This assures Germany of
a vast market for ornaments and adds to
the probability that none of these GUS
toners will be hostile to her.
Germany has in the territory in ques-
ton many of the products which she so
badly needs. There are, for example
sufficient wheat, corn and other cereals.
meat, tobacco, timber and that absolute
necessity-oil. That is. Rumania pro-
duces enough oil to supply Germany's
peace-time needs, and many believe the
quirements.
Among the necessities still missing are
dairy products, coffee, cocoa, rubber, cot
ton, wool, iron, copper, tin and phos-
pilates. However, Herr Hitler's empire
building is still young.
One really has to travel through the
Danubian basin countries and the rest
of the Balkans to realize the vast agri-
cultural wealth of this region.
I followed the Danube almost from
its source in Germany to where it empties
into the Black Sea, and was constantly
getting surprises over the extent of the
farming operations.
Ok Teams and Tractors.
Not little of the work, by the way is
done with sloW-moving (but sure) OK
teams. although tractors are being in
troduced in many places.
You get an idea of what is going for
ward from the wheat figures. The esti-
mated wheat crop for the present year
IN the Danubian Basin-Hungary. Ru-
mania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria-is 438,-
100000 bushels. Add to that Turkey S
estimated 1470OOOOO and Greece's st.
100000 and we get grand total of 622,-
100000 bushels.
That, perhaps, doesn't mean much to
the average person until it is compared
with something else. The latest estimate
have for our own United States is 940,-
100000 bushels for this year.
Not all the wheat here is available for
export, Of course, but much more can be
produced in this part of Europe without
doubt. The soil has been titled in many
instances since Roman days, but experts
say it is still good, although little fer
tilizer is used
One thing that astonished me was
when ran into huge fields of corn such
as I had never seen outside Kansas. I
saw tracts of corn that ran for miles
not all one farm, but practically inter-
locking.
At first thought my eyes were play
ing me tricks, but soon discovered that
maize is one of the principal crops of the
Danubian countries, and Greece and
Turkey. The five-year average for the
four Danubian countries alone, 1881
1885, was some 5,5000O0 bushels.
Corn Used Many Ways.
Cornmeal Is one of the chief items of
the peasants diet. He uses it for por-
ridge, bread and in various other ways.
The other day in Philippopolis. Bulgaria,
I saw peasants eating corn on the cob
in the ancient marketplace, which was
old when Julius Caesar was playing
hockey from school to visit the SWIM
ming hole in the Tiber.
All this wealth is being organized by
Germany, and production will be stimu-
lated where necessary to meet German
requirements. Markets for German
manufactures also will be created. In
fact, the whole area will be brought into
line with the Reich's economic needs.
On this connection Field Marshal Her.