Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-14
Reich's Expected Oil Shortage
Not Evident to Observers Yet
Conquests Have Materially Expanded Nazi Fuel
Resources, and Synthesis May Be
of Increasing Importance
By Oliver McKee,
By Oliver Mckee.

As Britain prepares for the expected
Nazi blitzkrieg, Royal Air Force bombers
speed almost nightly across the English
Channel and the North Sea. Among their
principal detectives are oil and gasoline
storage tanks. In modern war, domi-
mated by airplanes, tanks and other
mechanical and motorized units, oil and
gasoline are vital
Britain today has access TO most of
the worlds oil fields. Until the armi-
stice, France. too, shared this advantage.
Germany and Italy, on the other hand,
have little petroleum of their own, and
the British blockade has cut of both
countries from sources of supply in the
Americas, Asia and the Near East.
With the occupation of Bessarabia, So
Wet airplanes are now within half an
hours flying distance of the Rumanian
oil fields. Last year these wells had an
estimated output of $4,000, 900 barrels. A
large part of their product went to
Germany. Soviet Russia is in position,
II so disposed, to occupy them and cut
OIL fuel which the Nazis doubtless will
need If the war against Britain con-
hnues for many months. This is the
chief immediate threat of the Soviet
advance into the Balkans.
No Axis Shortage In Sight.
Will the axis powers face a shortage of
petroleum If they cannot gain a quick
victory over Britain? There are no in
hications that such shortage will stall
The aYiS offnrf IN, fbn SGD,
Germany's territorial conquests have SUBJ
stantially increased her fuel resources,
and, by the manufacture of synthetic
fuel, dependence on foreign imports of
petroleum has been substantially les
sened.
At the outbreak Of the war, Ger
manys petroleum reserves were closely
guarded military secret. Last year the
production Of German wells was esti-
mated at about $500 900 barrels. In view
Of the long preparations for war, it is
logical to assume that the Nazis had
accumulated large oil reserve, per-
haps as much as 100000 or 10000, 900
barrels. Earlier, many observers pre-
dicted that shortage of oil would con-
stitute fatal weakness in the Germany
economy. No such weakness, however,
has yet become apparent One reason is
that the blitzkrieg, against the Low
Countries and France, won its objec-
tives so quickly.
Through her conquests Germany has
obtained additional petroleum. In Nor
way, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and
Frame tho hoy, <ot>
over millions of barrels of oil and gaso-
line. In Germany and the occupied ter
fitory drastic restrictions have been i'm
posed on the use of gasoline and oil by
civilians, thus conserving existing stocks
for the military.
Austria and Poland Contribute.
Last year wells in Poland produced
nearly 1000 900 barrels of OIL The bulk
Of this production is now believed to be
under German control. In taking over
Austria, Germany acquired production
Of about 100000 barrels a year. There
are also some wells in Slovakia and Mo-
ravia, with an annual output of about
10000 barrels. These, too, are in Nazi
hands
Germany permits no waste of oil prod
ucts. An elaborate system has been set
up for the collection and regeneration
OF used lubricants. It is estimated that
this system yields $4,000 tons of lubri-
eating oil each year.
German scientists, in recent years,
have devoted much attention to the de-
velopment of substitutes for petroleum.
These substitute oil products are derived
In large part from domestic coal and lig-
mite. To obtain coal oils as substitute
for petroleum, the Bergius process is ex-
tensively used. It involves the destructive
hydrogenation of coal and coal-tar oil in
two stages, at temperature of about 400
degrees centigrade.
Production of synthetic fuel has enor-
mously increased in recent years. Sew
eral new plants have been constructed
this year and existing facilities have
been enlarged. According to some esti-
mates, production this year will total
over 100000 barrels. Synthesis, it is
said, makes a fairly efficient aviation
gasoline.
Complete Independence Seen.
Last December the German magazine
Del and Kohle predicted that all pos
sible requirements of the Nazi war ma
chine in 1910 could be filled by the rap
idly expanding synthetic oil industry.
This possibly may have been wishful
thinking. Germany nevertheless has
done wonders in the development Of ar
tificial substitutes for gasoline and rub
bef