Evening star., 1949-03-20
By the Assoeisisd Press


The Atlantic Pact nations pos
sess industrial machines and re-
sources which far surpass those
which the Soviet Union could use
in the event Of an arms show
down.
Even though production figures
from the other side Of the Iron
Curtain are scanty. there are
enough to provide comparisons
which are startling in their dis
parity. - -.-
They show the Western powers
top the Soviet-dominated states
4 to l in 1850 steel production
goals, more than 3 to / in pig
iron. to l in coal. and the lead
was 10 to l in petroleum three
years ago-the most recent COM
parison available.
AS for trained workers to man
the intricate machines needed to
supply guns. tanks. planes and
other atomic war essentials-the
West far outnumbers the East.
The figures were compiled from
American Government records,
Russian publications, official fig-
ures and standard references.
u. S., Russian Records Show Gap.
Since the United States and
Russia are the key nations in the
rival groupings Of nations, their
industrial records best illustrate
the big gap in the industrial score.
In mineral reserves alone. this
country far exceeds Russia's hold
ings in several major categories.
For instance. the United States is
estimated to have "a per cent of
the worlds total iron ore reserves
as against the U. S. S. RS IL per
cent. Americas coal reserves are
As per cent of the total, Russia S
are q per cent. For zinc, the
figures are: United States, "a per
cent; Russia, IL per cent; lead,
United States, IS per cent; Rus
sia. 2 per cent.
This country, however. is lack
ing in many strategic minerals
which are being stockpiled against
q future emergency.
It is in the use Of the materials
at hand that the great difference
is most apparent.
Five Plan Nearly Finished.
Russia Is now nearing compile
tion Of another of her five-year
plans aimed to lifting that giant
country by its industrial boot
straps. Here are the latest goals
as presented by Premier Stain in
an election eve pep talk February
9, 1916:
He called for a three fold pro-
duction" over prewar levels to
bring steel output ultimately to
0,000, 900 tons q year; pig iron,
50.000,000 tons; oil. 42o.000,00O
barrels and coal to 100000, 900
tons annually.
Mr.. Stain himself admitted
then that 1t might take three
five-year plans to achieve this. If
not more" But he said 1T can
be done and we must do it
only under such conditions will
our country be insured against any
eventuality."
Gives Glimpse Of Progress.
Mr.. Stain then went on to give
an illuminating glimpse into the
way in which Russia had advanced
since the outbreak of World War
I with these comparative figures:
Steel production-19l3. 4,230. 900
tons: 1910, 1896. 900 tons: 1850
goal, 25,400,000 tons; ultimate
goal-6Q, 100000 tons. s
Pig iron production -19I3. t.
220, 900 tons$ 1910. 5000. GOD tons;
1850 goal; 1s, 500 900 tons; ultimate
goal-50, ,000, 900 tons.
Petroleum-1913. 90. 3.060. 900 bar
rels: 1910. 2l7.00o, 900 barrels; 1850
goal. 247 800, 900 barrels: ultimate
goal-420, 900 900 barrels.
Coal-19l3. 29. 600, 900 tons; 1910,
166, 900 900 tons; 1850 goal, 250.-
000, 900 tons; ultimate goal-500,-
900, 900 tons.
How Aims Compare.
This is how the 1850 production
aims of Russia and four satellites
-CzechoSlovakia, Poland, Hun
gary and Romania-stack up with
those of the Atlantic powers Tin
round numbers:
Steel-West. 126,000,000 tons;
East, 29, ,000, 900 tons.
Iron-West, 100000 tons;
East, 22,Oo0,000 tons.
Coal-West, 800.000,000 tons;
East, 900, ,000,0 tons.
The latest comparative figures
on petroleum production are for
l946. Consequently they do not
take into account any recovery
sipce then from war damage in