Evening star., 1940-06-12
lta|y's Resources
Are Seen Sufficient
For Short War ONLY
80 Severe Stroin Expected
BY Observers Here if
Hostiiities Are PROLONGED
BY OLIVER MCKEE.

BY OLIVER MCKEE.
Though Italy is believed to have
on hand sufficient stocks of vital
materials to carry on short war,
q prolonged conflict will place the
national economy under a severe
strain, in the opinion of experts
who have made special study of
1taly's economic resources.
For supplies of coal, petroleum
and many metals, Italy is largely
dependent on imports from foreign
countries. If Hitler does not quickly
defeat the Allies, and if the British
and French fleets are able to main
tain an effective blockade, Italy,
after few months, may face seri-
Gus shortage of the materials needed
to sustain its war effort.
=, Totalitarian control, at the out
set OF the war, gives Italy one major
element of economic strength. For
many months Italian economy has
been virtually on war basis. so
Mussolini faces no such problem of
transition from a peace to a war
economy as confronted the British
and French governments last Sep
tember.
Though Italy remained nom
>belligerent until this week, many of
the control measures to which the
belllgerentS have resorted have long
been in effect in Italy These in
clude restrictions on consumption.
the required declaration of private
stocks Of various metals and sys-
tenn of rationing that can be quickly
extended to all important food
stuffs.
Under the Fascist system of gov
ernment, all branches of economic
life are strictly regulated and CO.
ordinated. AS in Nazi Germany,
the national economy is subordi-
, mated to political objectives.
Keep Resources Secret.
. Since the outbreak of the Euro
. pean war the italian government
: has suspended publication of eco
, nomlc statistics. Industrial espion-
: age laws make it difficult for repre-
sentatives of foreign governments to
OBTAIN information on industrial de-
velopments from Italian business
men. Though official figures are
lacking. it seems logical to assume
that Italy, in recent months, has
been accumulating stocks of ma
terials needed for war.
For its supplies of petroleum,
Italy has been largely dependent
on shipments from the United
States, Latin America and the Far
East. Italy obtains some petroleum
from Albania and Rumania. If
the Allies can maintain an effective
blockade of the Mediterranean for
period of six months or more
Italy may therefore face a short
age of petroleum.
1taly's industries are largely de-
pendent on foreign imports for
their supplies of coal. Of Italy's
imports Of coal, about thirds
come from Germany, most of it by
sea. With 1taly's entrance into
the war, it will now be necessary
to import coal from Germany by
rail. Carrying this coal will put an
through the Brenner Pass, and
there is some question at the pres
ent time whether Italy will be able
to get all the coal it's industries
need by rail from Germany.
Scrap Largely From U. S.
In 1888 Italy produced about a
million tons of iron ore The steel
and iron industry imports a large
quantity of iron ore In 1899 Italy
obtained 10 per cent of her scrap
iron requirements from the United
States. She can no longer look to
this country for scrap iron and
other steel and iron products.
The chief mineral resources OF
Italy are mercury ore, sulphur.
bauxite and zinc. Italy has aimed
to overcome her deficiency in
minerals and metals through the
development of substitutes. For
example, aluminium, made from
italian bauxite, has been substituted
for copper, where this can be done.
Hydroelectric power. similarly, has
taken the place of coal in many in
dustries.
1talys imports consist largely of
raw materials and semi-f finished
products. BY tightening their belts,
the Italians, it is believed, can get
along without importing any large
quantity of foodstuffs. In recent
years the government has carried
out a program aimed to increase
the output Of farm commodities
production of which is insufficient
for domestic needs.
Mussolini will face no shortage
Of war munitions in the near future,
1t is thought here Munitions fac
tories have been turning out large
quantities of munitions and Ger
many. at a pinch. could probably
supply her axis partner with sub
stantial stocks of ammunition, air
plane bombs and other war NUM-