The Spectator., 1914-12-01
PRICES 0F FOOD
 RISE IN GERMANY
EFFECT OF A CUTTING OFF OF THE IMPORTS.
western Newsnsner Union News servica.

Western Newsnsner Union News Service.
 Berlin.-The effect of the war on the prices of provisions had until late in Octobar, hardly made itself ap. parent.
 In the last few days, however. sharp general rise has set in, embrac- ing practically everything to eat ex- cept meats, which, owing to Ger many's unusually large stock of swine, have risen but little, and in some cases not at all.
 Vegetables have practically disap- peared from the market. Prices of peas and lentils have risen from ' cents, the price before the war. to 15 cents, and it is predicted that they will shortly cost more The govern ment recently confiscated all coffee held at Hamburg by English ware houses. but even with this the supply is running short and prices have in- creased markedly. Cold storage stocks of eggs have greatly reduced and it will be but a short time before there will be none to be had. The Berlin NsudlIbcl ol polutS eo lilc somewhat surprising fact that Ger , many produces only 5 per cent of its egg supply.
 Potatoes have reached prices which are a hardship to the poorer classes, for which they form the chief article of food. Last year at this time they cost 50 cents for 115 pounds. Now the price is SIPS. Great quantities of potatoes must also be devoted to the production of denatured spirits to take the place of gasoline, which has dis appeared from the market because of the army's need. Grain prices have been fixed by the federal council Wheat sells for $1.69 bushel.
 A factor in the increases is the presence of more than 300,000 prison CTS of war in Germany, who must be fed in addition to the regular popula- tion. This number is growing daily. Notwith standing all this there is no fear that Germany can be starved out by her enemies. The men in responsi. ble places, however. felt themselves impelled to warn the people tha. there must be no needless waste of food stuffs.
 emy has slackened considerably and his infantry attacks have practically ceased.
 "ln remarking upon the general mil itary situation of the allies as it ap- pears to me at the present time. it does not seem to be clearly under stood that the positions in which we have been engaged reach nearly all the central parts of Europe, in the East and in the West. The combined French. Belgian and British armies in the West and the Russian army in the East are opposed to the united forces of Germany and Austria, act ing as combined armies between us Our enemies elected at the com mencement of the war to throw the weight of their forces against our ar mics in the West and to detach only comparatively weak force composed of very few of the first line troops and several corps of second and third line troops to stem the Russian ad- vance until the Western forces could be completely defeated and over whelmed Their strength enabled them from the outset to throw great ly superior forces against us in the West. This precludes the possibility of our taking vigorous offensive ac- tion except when miscalculations and mistakes are made by their command CTS. opening up special opportunities for successful attacks and pursuit."