Evening star., 1941-03-24

German and Italian blockade by
closing the continental borders, and
interior blockade of the division OF
France into zones.
The German military government
in France has printed 10000, 900 900
francs 5O0,0O0,00 in paper
money, which the German soldiers
exchange actively in France for
merchandise, which Is one of the
principal causes of its disappear
ance.
An embargo has been put upon the
stores of food, cotton, wool, linen,
chemicals, coal, rubber, iron, alumni
mum, copper, etc, which existed in
France at the moment of the armi-
stice, and they will not be restored
to French enterprises unless they
accept work under German control
and for German consumption The
textile industry, for example, is au-
thorized to work at 30 per cent of its
1888 capacity and on the condition
that three-quarters of this 80 per
cent Is for Germany, the remaining
quarter being for French civil needs.
Another example: Coal is conf1s-
Gated for the most part by the Ger
mans and sent into Italy.
Auto Tires COnfiscated.
The farmer is asked to obtain
higher crop yields, but there is no
more fertilizer. Phosphate comes
from Africa, potash from Alsace,
guano from Chile, three forbidden
regions, either for lack of boats or
by the blockade (no communication
is permitted between France and the
| old territory of AlSace-Lorraine).
The German Army has seized
IS 900 cars and 1000 locomotives.
They would certainly have seized
more of the latter if the French 10
comotives were not too heavy and
too powerful for their rails and
bridges. They use, besides, about
100000 French cars for the trans
port Of troops and material. That
is almost one-quarter of the equip
ment of the French railroads. In
the north of France the canals are
still obstructed by debris and tanks.
Finally, for lack of gasoline, nine
tenths of the motor vehicles which
circulated on French roads are i'm
modified.
The automobile industry is prac-
tically at a standStill. 1t is esti-
mated 250.0O0 cars were destroyed or
abandoned on the roads during the
exodus in June. The abandoned
ncnlncS hn
mans have carried off the tires.
The construction Of electric cars and
gas cars (allowing gasoline cars to
burn the gas from wood charcoaD
has almost stopped for a lack of
iron, requiSitioned by the Germans.
Blockades Add to Misery.
The German Army has proceeded
with acquisitions, with seizures, with
blockadeS. In the case of requisi-
tions, it has paid for the products
| at generally satisfactory price with
the marks of occupation. In the
case Of seizures. the products are
considered prizes of war" The
blockades have increased the hold
which Germany has on France.
These blockades hit most of the
products necessary for human life
and industry If you want a case of
condensed milk, sack of sweet po-
tatoes. a ton Of sugar, a spool of
copper wire 20 meters of cloth. it
is necessary to get an authorization
of de blocking" signed by the Ger
man military authorities.
This rule which, in appearance, is
destined TO stop speculation and
monopolization, has for its principal
purpose putting at German mercy
all the economic functions of France.
Germany can. in three days. deprive
France of all means of eating and
/ working.
tReleased by the North American
/ Newspaper Alliance, IneD