Evening star., 1915-12-15
DANUBE IS OPEN AGAIN
FOR FREIGHT TRAFFIC
Way Is Free for the Shipment OF
Grain From Rumania and
Bulgaria.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

correspondence OF tne Associated ITess-
BERLIN, November 2S.-The resump-
ton of steamboat travel on the
Danube is an event of much economic
Importance for Germany and Austria
Hungary. That river is in peace times
the great highway for freight trafnc
between Rumania and Bulgaria on the
one side and the central powers on the
other, and by far the greater part OF
the foreign trade of the two niue
Danubian kingdoms has been with
their big western neighbors. But river
traffic has been entirely suspended
since the war broke out-and this Tor
two causes.
Not only did Serbia put mines into
the river but the Russians sank sew
eral old vessels in the narrow channel
OF the Iron Gate, just below the Hun
garian frontier. This wholly stopped
the export of grain from Bulgaria TO
Germany and the dual monarchy. ana
also greatly restricted shipments from
Rumania as well. Some shipments by
rail were made from Rumania, however,
but not only were the railroads quite
inadequate for the traffic offered, but
the Rumanian government pursued a
policy which appeared to be dictated
by the wish to check shipments.
dampered by Rumanla.
The government apparently believed
that Germany and it's ally were placed
in position of dependence upon Ru-
mania for grain supplies; hence it was
to drive a hard bargain with
them. Not only were export duties on
grain introduced but special fees for
placing freight cars at the disposal
Quence of this policy the greater part
of the grain available for export from
the 1914 crop was left in the country,
and is still there.
Only recently-after the Serbian cam
paign was well advanced-did the Ru-
government see that its sys-
TEN of squeezing the trade for all that
could be got out of it could no longer
be maintained, and about week be-
fore the Germans and AuStr1anS Ell
fected a junction with the bulgarian
troops the Bucharest authorities began
to relax the onerous burdens upon the
expectation of grain and other agrl-
cultural products. In view of the harsh
measures enforced by Rumania, how
ever, there is now a strong disposition
in Germany and Austria to buy no
grain at all, and to buy
from Bulgaria instead, but doubtless
the trade will later come around TO
taking Rumanian grain without obJec-
tions as soon as it is offered on equal
terms with Bulgarian.
Grain Supply of Germany.
The supplies to be obtained from
those two countries are very large
much larger in fact, than Germany and
her ally are likely to need. Here in
Germany, the fact has been established
official inquiry that the stock
Of grain in the country is ample for
feeding the population. hence there is
no need for buying abroad Tor bread
making purposes. On the other hand,
4 big addition to the grain supplies
will come in very acceptably, as 1t can
De fed to, live stock and thus increase
The meat supply.
Rumania produces about 5000, 600
.ons of grain, of which about 100000
IONS represent corn, 100000 tons
wheat, and the rest is chiefly barley.
Nearly half of the crop has hitherto
been exported. The amount now avail
a BILE for export, however, is believed to
be at least 100000 tons, after about
two-thirds of last years exportable
surplus was left in the country through
the Governments restrictive measures.
Bulgaria Is oversupplied.
In Bulgaria, according to official esti-
mates, there will be about 100000
tons of grain for export from this
years crop, of which about 10000 tons
represent corn and the rest chiefly