Evening star., 1940-07-13

NVII4uCIcu TeVpIS
Sufficient Food Found
Likely for Germony's
10000, 900. However
BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July Sufficient
food for Germany's 10000, GOO but
a possibility of starvation this
winter for thousands of French,
Belgians, Poles, Dutch and Scan
dinavians was visualized yesterday
by some international grain authori-
ties.
Using information obtained from
Europe through confidential trade
channels, these sources outlined the
food situation abroad in the wake
OF Germany's conuuests as follows:
l. Great Britain's food blockade
against Germany-and now most
of the rest of Europe-is highly
efficient; but
2. Germany stored food inten-
sively for five years before the war
began, and is alleged to have on
hand sufficient reserves, which with
new crops would feed her own pop
ulation for four years:
3. The European grain crop this
year will be only about two-thirds
Of normal requirements. due to bad
weather and mobilization of farmers
as soldiers;
4. Harvests of the captured areas
are more likely to 60 to Germany
than to the civilians of those areas.
Germany Stored Food.
England imports most of her food
but is expected to be able to nourish
her people from distant empire and
other sources overseas as long as
the navy can control the shipping
lanes, stave off submarine and
bombing attacks on merchant
vessels.
Germany, it was said, began
making food preparations in 1884.
Through the ensuing years, an in
creasingly large amount of food
was laid away-mainly in abandoned
mines beyond danger of bombing
damage
OF recent years, Germany's wheat
requirements have run about Is per
cent above harvests of 10000, 900 to
200,0000 900 bushels annually.
Another German necessity, rye,
has been produced at a rate of about
370,000000 bushels annually, aug
mented by purchases from Poland.
Poland's winter wheat and rye
this year VIZ 60 mainly into Ger
man granaries.
Russia's newest conquest, fertile
Bessarabia, cuts into Germanys
grain area.
This is bad year for European
crops. The winter was unusually
cold. Spring was rainy and floods
were severe.
Floods in the Danubian delta
wrecked much of Rumanias grain
prospects. making Rumanians look
to Bessarabia for about so per cent
of their crop, instead of the ira
ditional IS per cent. Then in
marched the Red Army, taking
over lands expected to yield around
$4,000, 900 bushels of wheat.
Balkan Exports Hit.
Ordinarily Rumania, with Hun
gary, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, send
100000 bushels of wheat yearly
to the rest of Europe. This year,
said the experts, it is unlikely those
nations would have more than 25,-
100000 bushels above needs of their
own people.
Other European nations are grain
importers, with the exception of
France in good crop years. Now,
however, the French prospect is set
at less than 200,000,000 bushels of
wheat compared with Frances an
nual requirement of more than
100000 bushels.
Belgium and Holland annually
eat 95,000,000 bushels of wheat and
produce only 100000. Norway
has had to import 9,5OO,OO0 bushels,
Denmark around 100000.
Sweden has ample wheat on hand.
Although her crop is estimated at
only 1S,370,0O0 bushels compared
with last years yield of 81 1884. 900,
her carryover is adjudged sufficient
to see her through another year.
Switzerland is considered pre-
pared to withstand a siege. The
little Alpine nation has, since the
World War, maintained a years
supply of grain. Much of this is
sunk in huge drums far below the
surface of Lake Geneva.
Belgium Had Reserves.
The Belgians were building up
reserves when the blitzkreig struck,
thereby presenting to the German
conquerors store of 100000
bushels of wheat.
Some produce experts say they
expect Norway and Denmark to
suffer most because they have been
dependent largely upon British de-
mand for dairy products.
Danish cattle have been fed on
imported cottonseed and linseed
cakes.
Argentina suddenly has been get
ting calls from Spain for huge orders
of wheat. Several million bushels
are afloat or contracted for.
Grain men say Spain undoubt-
edly needs all that because of her
own crop shortage. But they also
point out Generalissimo Franco was
assisted to his victory by Hitler and
Mussolini and that Italy's wheat
crop this year has been estimated
at far below her usual 100000 900
bushel minimum requirement.