Evening star., 1941-01-17
BY ROY PORTER.

Lie ScCOIlO is UIle Struggle TO re-
organize occupied Frances industrial
and agricultural production to coin
eide with German economy.
A high German military official
tod me recently: 'It's the first time
il history an occupation force ever
carried on continuing war against an
enemy nation and at the same time
conducted an economic reorganiza-
ton with both operations based in
the same territory"
1t was only a matter of days after
the army marched into Paris that
the economic experts followed on
their heels. They were all in uni
form, directly connected with the
German wehrmacht, and established
headquarters under the military ad-
ministration in the occupied terri
tory.
Fighting Still Continued.
The mechanical columns still were
pushing southwark. Bordeaux still
was in the process of being occupied.
Troops and material were being
shifted from one location to another
to meet changing, purely military
situations.
But even before the ruins of shat
tered towns had ceased smoking,
even before the dive-bombers had
finished their Gathering flights over
Paris rooftops, the economists had
gone to work on a carefully laid out
plan.
Today, that plan is in operation.
But also in operation is the German
military campaign against England,
based at newly constructed airports
in occupied territory and fortified
coastal cities.
One of the first things the eco
nomic experts did was to undertake
a large-scale survey of French pro-
duction, its possibilities and how it
had been affected by the war.
Observers Toured Country.
Specially trained observers toured
the various zones. Some of the
things they learned, and later an
nounced, we're:
Frances beet sugar crop could be
estimated at about 20 per cent of
the normal yield This was the
basis for new restrictions on sugar
and the substitution of saccharine
in some regions.
Frances truck gardens, mostly
north and west of Paris, had not
been cultivated because of the mass
evacuation of men for military serv-
ice and later withdrawal of the re-
naming civilians. This caused a
forecast of possible shortages Of
carrots, beans, potatoes, cabbage
and other vegetables.
Military operations in the Cham
pagne district around Rheims,
Chalons-Sur-Marn and Epernay
resulted in an almost total loss of
grapes this year for most OF the old
established cellars. In addition,
lack of cultivation Of vineyards in
other nearby districts led to the
prophecy that the champagne crop
would need at least two years before
returning to normal
Factories Closely Inspected.
Textile factories in the north
underwent close and painstaking
inspection. Engineers brought from
Germany inspected French factories
and made recommendations on pos
sible ways to Increase their output.
French engineers were sent to look
over German factories. Experts
estimated the amount OF cloth on
hand was sufficient to last about a
year, after which new weaving
schedules would be begun on a
standardized" pattern.
The Cognac district in Southwest
ern France, where the famous brandy
is produced, was inspected and the
crop was found nearly normal.
Coal mining in the north around
Lille and Valenciennes was found
to be suffering a serious setback due
to antiquated equipment and flooded
shafts.
All types of tion-rail,
road and river-were the objects
of careful studies.
Had Production Figures.
In each particular case, the Ger
mans arrived with production figures
for various industries compiled over
period sometimes extending 10
years back. In many cases, these
figures showed a decline of as high
as 20 per cent during the last five
years.
"Our job is to get production back
to what it used to be-" one expert
said, land then to figure out how
we can increase this production to
it's fullest possible extent"
All of these surveys and recon-
mendations resulted in a series Of
regulations and DEGREES. some issued
',y the office of the military governor
for the occupied territory and others
from regional Offices.
In number of instances, DEGREES
conficted.
remember one miXup on sugar
rationing. In one region where
stocks we're ample, the monthly
ration was reduced with the idea Of
saving the surplus for future use.
1eC, dIlOUIleI OlllCc lC4uloiClOi1CO Poie
of this same surplus to meet a
shortage in an adjoining depart
ment. The two orders had to be
reconciled before either could be-
come effective.
Slashed Red Tape.
Other examples of confusion be-
came so frequent that the head OF
one of the economic departments
said not long ago: ut begins to look
as If we were not only organized for
this lob but maybe overorganized."
So the aid of few efficient red-tape
cutters was sought and received and
things began to move more smoothly.
Early in the occupation and during
the period when stocks of available
foodstuffs were far below the amount
required, many merchants arbi-
trarily began to boost their prices.
This constituted what the Ger
mans called bluntly threat to the
national economy" and result in
a drastic price-fixing decree. All
merchants, whether engaged in
wholesale or retail business, were