1941-05-31 — Page 4

Saturday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPPE

BRITISH BOMBING EFFECTIVE

Nazi War Machine May Feel Shortage Of Oil

Of Oil This Year

By J. G. Donley

The emphasis upon the assertion that modern war is a con- test of machines sometimes overlooks another important fact. None of the mechanisations of war; nor any of the machine tools that produce the machines of destruction, could function without lubricating oil. Aud mobile mechanised forces could not bo mobile without motor fuels.

The struggle for merchanical mastery, therefore, rests upon oil and gas. And control of adequate supplies of petroleum, while preventing the enemy from attaining a like position, Is a major part of British strategy.

In America we have all the petroleum we care or need to use. And the quickening business pace will bring a sizable in- crease in our consumption of petroleum products, particularly gasoline and lubricating oils in 1941.

Now automobiles have been purchased at a record rate dur ing the winter senson, and hundreds of thousands of used cars are ending their idleness on the lots and going to work, taking. men to and from new jobs. Registration figures this year, both for cars and trucks, should show a surprising rise in the number of motor vehicles actively in use.

RUMANIAN OIL INADEQUATE

Meanwhile, British observers are hoping before the end of this year the Nazi military mucltine may feel the oil strain. Ger- many is making every effort to expand Rumania's output. But Rumania's petroleum production, although important to Reich, is only a drop in the bucket when measured against our scale of outpul.

Le

In 1939, according to Theron Wasson's mineral map of Europe, Rumania produced 46,000,000 barrels of crude petroleum. At last year's rate of crude oil production in the United States, we could tie Rumania's unnual production in about 13 days.

Down to the southeast of Rumanin, the British have access to more than twice as much petroleum as Rumania is likely to produce. In 1936, the combined production of Iran and Iraq. according to Mr Wasson's figures, was 93,006,000 barrels of petrofeum.

Production of crude petroleum even in the expanded area of so-called "Greater Germany," if we leave Rumania out of that picture, is negligible. Russia produced 216,727,000 barrels of crude petroleum in 1939, but the latest figures on her consump- tion show that she used 147,450,000 barrels for her own needs. in 1936.

Kussia's expanded military machine probably has increased her internal needs since then; so that Rumania probably remains Germany's most promising oil supply source, particularly when the difficulties of transportation are taken into account along with uncertain political relations.

DEPEND ON ACCUMULATION

SILENT SERVICE-STRIKING SUCCESS.

EDUCATION

Malt

from the

British Commonwealth is the basis of this

Beer

LABEL

BLUE

BRITISH BREWED

Lager MARK

TRADE

BEER

IN

EWERY&D

More people are

drinking

Blue Label

OLD CHINA

ON

notes written in a

THE SPIRIT OF LEARN- some other easy book such as THE EXAMINATION

WAS ING IN CHINA is. im- the famous Ts'in-tsz-man

HELD in the great llerary perishable. In no other country The proper sounds of the charac- to see that no candidate smuggled in "Thousand Character Essay" bull of the province, and was very strict. The utmost care was taken is the attainment of knowledge ters were drilled into them, day cribs, such as miniature editions of more highly esteemed. Educa after day, until they were the Classics tion has been so exalted that it known by heart. No pupil who minute hand, on scraps of paper. As. has, more than any other factor, could not pai-shue or buck his son as everyone was inside the hall, kept the Chinese national soul book," that is. recite whole pap

the doors were locked and writing alive through the ages. though dynasties have fallen, the back turned to the teacher, was proceeded to separate cubleles ur distributed. The theme Was pages from memory with his then announced, and the students monarchy has been overthrown, considered to have made cells set apart for them. Actually, a repablic inaugurated, and the progress in his studies.

any there, was the possibility of two nation is even now struggling next to be taken up was the their theses,

The students colluding in the writing of Chinese Four

for official monitors Books of Confucias," were always on the alert. influence

for existence, the people, thanks to the

AL-

of their ancient educational system, are still onc.

The system, preserving China's cultural heritage so well is without parallel. What- ever may have been its defects, theless, held its own until 1904 the venerable system. never-

when it was finally abolished by imperial decrce. As modern

By T.

Paul Gregory

ef

per

At length, the examination papers were finished and handed in to the examiners for correction. This part the task was the most ordusus, the handwriting and exactitude of the

the written characters had to be closely observed. The successful

It is apparent, therefore, that German petroleum resources depend heavily upon accumulated stocks, about which it is doubt- ful whether anyone outside the Reich has complete information. and upon production of synthetic oil. In addition to shutting off supplies by the blockade, the British have been actively bombing

student had not only to write the ail dumps, oil refineries and the synthetic "oil-from-coal" plants.

ideographs with accuracy, but also had to be aware that certain charac- The latest information is supplied by the "Petroleum Times,"

ters, if they happened to form a por- published in London, which reports that British planes repeatedly

tion of the ruling sovereign's many have bombed the, plants in which Germany has been manufac-

titles, were always written with the Chinese students are. the suc- which were gone through with mission of certain strokes. Should turing 90 per cent, of aviation fuel and lubricants.

cessors of the scholars of Prussian

the thoroughness,

candidate be careless in this res- More than 500 of 1400 bombing raids made up to the be-lift-the-veil-of-that-half-memory Very often, sumie "ploughed.

page peet, no matter how excellent was yesterday, it is of interest to after page being committed to, his essay be was sure-to-be- ginning of 1941 have struck at the Ruhr industrial area in which lies the oil centre, Gelsenkirchen, with Germany,, making frantic

remembered ern of forty years commentary on the subject was

the Hanlin College also included in the school cur- and gambling touts in the city had efforts to move vulnerable plants eastward. venty locations

ago when

Meanwhile, enterprising hawkers and the literary examination riculum, and the diligent student been selling chances in a peculiar of refineries and synthetic oil plants have been listed as specific,

system were in flower.

was expected to master this as lottery known as wat-sing, or "encir- targets repeatedly bombed.

well.

eling the

surnames,

a game of chance similar to the modern po-plu. The names of those sitting for the examination had been obtained, and

When we read about raids on such cities as Leipzig, Leuna. Politz, Cologne, Magdeburg and many others, it probably means that the R.A.F. has taken another stab at the Achilles' heef of Nazi motive power.

With the British now able to do a bigger and better bombing job, there is hope that the course of the war may turn on that

vital commodity-perhaps sooner than we think.

NOTE THE UNDERWOODS

As is, well known, the educn- tional system of old China was based on the erudition of the

candidates. Large sums

were

Confucian classics. Grandfathers FOLLOWING THIS STAGE people laid wagers on which would of youngsters living to-day the Chinese boy of forty years ago ful

OF ELEMENTARY STUDY, appear on the official list of success- generally started their scholas was invariably sent to the classes of staked, and everyone had his ging, lie careers with the reading some loent scholar, who, as probu from the humble shop-boy earning of either the Saam-tsz-king or bly as not, was preparing for the five dollars nonik to the wealthy

Government Classic," or porting himself in the meantime by of thousands of tapis.

examinations and up- merchant with his princely Income

"Three Character

Wherever You Go!

MORE THAN 5,000,000 UNDERWOODS HAVE BEEN

PRODUCED AND SOLD

UNDERWOOD-Typewriter Leader of the World!

SOLE AGENTS -----

DODWELL & CO., LTD.

'Alexandra Ballding,

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acting as a sal-pan (literally "wes- tern guest") or private tutor, Un- der his Instruction, the pupil gained a knowledge of more of the Classics, was taught how to prepare

AT LAST THE LONG-AWAITED and theses

ALIST was posted outside the on passages chosen

from examination hati, nanouncing that the them. When the lad was considered successful candidates had been

1

B.A.

by his mentor to be sufficiently ad- awarded the honour of sau-ta'ai, that vanced, he was taken to one of the adorned talent"-a degree corres- local examinations conducted by the ponding approximately to

Crowds of students anxiously scanned magistrate of the district. The next the bulletin for a clue as to their fate. step was to attend the examination shrewd tradesmen with an eye to bu held In a departmental Canton, for instance. Of course, no and enterprising printers struck them like siness soon had the whole list sopied, city degree was given to

the students off for sale in the streets. Telegraph who successfully passed, but they wires between the grent port cities received honourable mention and hummed with messages telling of the their nanics were published in the event. Couriers were despatched to official gazette. Indeed, these two the market towns throughout the examinations might be compared in province and as every pensant had their status to the school-leaving purchased his share of teal-sing lottery ecrtinente and matriculation

ilekets, there was as much excitement passes s now required of students in the Derby.

after the running of the local Colony.

The recipients of the degree of sau trol were nt puce awarded certain privileges: they could not, for instance, THOSE WHO SUCCEEDED he tortured into confessing a crime t

IN "MATRICULATING." they were ever hauled before a tri could now enter for the third "quiz bu of justice. Their wishes held session." which was conducted by were

weight with the authorities, and they the hok-t'ol, or "Literary Chuntel ilmired by everyone.

treated with deference outd

ler," at the provincial capital. This examination was one of the

Kreat

In addition, there were three other events of the day, and eager crowds literary honours which were avidly flocked to it ns

It as if to a country

Hawkers, windlers and pickpool Bought oftar. These were the degrees

of Kul-yan or "elevated man" corres-

swarmed the streets, for there were Ponding to our M.A.. faun-sz or "ad- surely to be good pickings among the LL.D. and Instly the much-coveted vanced scholar" equivalent to hi pressing throngs which hoped to ap- Chong-yuen. plaud some relative or friend among Ph.D., which was awarded by the Em

a degree similar to a the successful candidates.

peror himself. As hoiders of the lat were comparatively few, I was en Blind singing girls, with faces honour sufficient to procure for the gaily rouged and painted, hobbled successful candidate a life membership their precarious way through the emolument from the roynt purse.

in the Imperial Academy with ample narrow streets, clutching the hands of the smirking harridans who had Although tlicin in tow. So numerous were examination system are gone forever. the days of the old those, poor sightless daughters or they sill retain the wattul attention Aphrodite that the Cantonese wa China will return with appreciation to of the masses. Perhaps a revitalised wont to remark facetiously, the classical learning of lin Enges, and "Maang-mut hon-haau-oven the a modernised bind girls hurry to the examine based on the old will once become a examination Byzlem tions"

Favreality.

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ROSALIND

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Hobart CAVANAUGH Richard LAME

Produced and Directed by WILLIAM A SEITER Basant but at Deighat Bory by Chaerah Back Charhulpbey by ICHARD COHHB, OLADI LEBAKĀM

7156. Amadora Proden) OLENN TRYCH -'A UNIVEREAL MSDER"