The Rumanian Earthquake
One result of the severe earthquake which Rumania ex- perienced on Sunday was an extensive and distressing loss of life; another was extensive and less distressing damage to the oilfields. It would be less than human if, with no lack of sympathy for the unhappy victims of the disaster, we in this country were not concerned most to know how far Rumania's capacity for the production and transport of oil has been diminished. For that country is now virtually enemy territory, though for reasons by no means clear the British Govern- ment still maintains diplomatic relations with it. Germany occupied Rumania partly for strategic reasons, but partly, and more, with a view to laying hands on the country's oil- supplies, all the more urgently needed now that the R.A.F. is playing havoc with German storage-depots and plants producing synthetic oil. Some, it is clear, of the Rumanian oil-fields have been fired by the earthquake, and at various ports equipped with special installations for the export of oil extensive damage is said to have been caused. According to some reports the result is such as to modify radically Rumania's military and economic situation. The news so far is hardly dependable enough to warrant that conclusion, but it is dear that Nature has intervened to diminish, to a degree yet to be determined, the value to Germany of Germany's latest conquest.
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