Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-18
CONTRACTS FOR FOOD
NOT ALWAYS FULFILLED
burEomnster OF Vienna Biumes Certain
OF Neutral Ncighborn for Failure to
Make Shipments.

VENICE, April l7.-There have been
sc many contradictory rumors of the
state OF the food supply In Vienna that
1t Isl interesting to find In the latest
issue OF the Neue Wiener Journal n
verbatim report of speech on this
subject by the BurgomaSter OF Vienna
DR. Weiskirchner He says In part:
we shall not starvc. but we must so
arrange our consumption OF food that
we can last out till the next harvest.
can say confidently that the munich
patty has done everything that lies In
IT'S power. Anticipating the coming
state OF affairs, began buying In sup
pies or Hour as early as last August
In that month alone ] bought 100000
worth of foodstuffs. and since then we
have expended S3.0O0.O0O more I'm the
same way.
Il am not to blame for the fact that
certain contracts which we placed have
not been fulfilled. The blame for this
rests with certain OF our neutral neigh
bors. I'm Roumania we placed n con-
tract Tor several thousand wagon loads
OF wheat. but. we have not yet received
single wagon. The Roumanians took
our money. but have SO far kept the
wheat in their own territory.
Let me give you another example
OF our difficulties. purchased In Rou-
mania 200 carloads OF beans. but the
consignment could not be Immediately
delivered owing to the shortage of cars
on the railroads. Now Roumania has
placed an export tax of $500 In gold
on each carload,
lin September last purchased wheat
III America. The ship was fortunate
enough to reach Genoa without being
nolested But Italy now refuses to
let the wheat pass through to us, and
1T has, therefore. had to be sold in
Genoa harbor.
''l,ven from Hungary we have not yet
1,... tI,nt Il,
they should remember that we are
waCinE common war. and the time is
now come when Hungary must let US
have her surplus supplies of food. even
during peace time we have TO depend
on Hungary for wheat and corn. Is
the Price we pay so poor Thank Heav
on. we were able TO conhscate some
large stocks of maize at S. Il hundred
weight, and we have been living on it
for long time. DO YOU know what
price Hungary demands for maize now ?
over 50 Il hundredwcight.
1T Is q question which touches most
deeply the people OF Vienna. hungary
must let us have her surplus, and that
at no higher price than our sister state
can decently demand. Ii 1t be true tina I.
Hungary is going to send us her sur
plus. I think we shall he safe. But we
must make sacrifices ourselves by using
inferior flour and by limiting our food
TO the minimum ration which Will see
us through to the next harvest"
After complaining Of the system OF
bread tickets. which the government
has been compelled to adopt. the Burgo-
master continued:
Were it not that / have the peo-
pie of Vienna at my back we should
witness debaclc terrible to imagine
am giving you the plain facts so that
you can enlighten others. There are
thousands Of people who never read
10 n MI tta
lamations. You must explain to them
how things stand. in order TO prevent
any public unrest at the outset. You
must not lose your bread tickets, for
you will not get new ones
II pray every day to God that the