The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-23
Food Crisis Revealed
In Journal For Blind
Berlin Periodical in BraIe Letters Escaped CenSor's
Eye-Describes Daily Rations DoIed Out in Ger
many According to Scientific Menu.

NEW YORK, Dec. 28.-Through the
medium of a journal In the Braille
sN stem of raised letters for the blind
which escaped the vigiIant eye of the
censor. what is probably the most au-
thoritative article on Germany's lack
of food has reached this country. For
the first time it is revealed that every
man. woman, and child in Germany rs
living on slender rations. doled oAt by
weight, determined on after a con-
ference of chemists scientists, and
rhr sicians in Berlin.
The journel which brings this in
formation is Die Neue Zeit. or Inc
New Time. a socialist publication tor
the blind, issued in Berlin. 1t was re-
ceived a week ago by Miss Helen
Keller. who was born deaf, dumb, ana
blind, but who was taught to talk.
Miss Keller, who is a socialist made
an addreSs last Sunday night against
preparedness. under the auspices OF
the Labor Forum, at Washington Irv-
Ing High School. Much of the intor-
ma ton on whmich she based her OBJ
jections to preparedness, she said, came
from the journals for the blind which
she receives from Paris, London, Ber-
lin, and Vienna.
According to Die Neue Zeit. which
pGDllSHtS the ldDlt Ol lOOu NdlueS ue-
teTmlned on, the convention called by
the German government embraced the
most noted scientists i'm the country.
Experiments were conducted to dis
cover how much food was necessary
to keep a person alive when not ac-
tive and how much more was needed
TO enable worker to perform his
duties without suffering from NAL
nutrition.
An inventory Of the food on hand and
the fnpH mast bilitipg taken and
an imperial edict was Issued instruct
ing the people what diet thcy we're IN
maintain. threatening imprisonment
for violation of any Of the regulations
of the edict.
Two Meals a Day.
Committees have been appointed in the
provinces and the cites and theV have
taken over all food supplies. which are
being doled out according to the neces-
stiles of the people. All are supplied
with tickets which entitle them to a
certain ratio daily. the ratio being deter
mined on by the size of the family.
The chief foods in Germany. according
to Die Neue Zeit. consist OF potatoes and
oatmeal, and the people are permitted
two meals daily Fruit soup Is also dis
tributed. and occasionally meat. Meat
however Is scarce. and is entirely under
government control. When meat Is
way Of preparing il is permitted. un'
der Threat of punis hment, No fats are
allowed to stay oil he meats. They are
carefully removed at the municipal sta
tons and are used In the preparation
of suets and soups.
One of the provisions of the edict was
that persons who owned hogs should xii
them and sell the meat to the govern.
ment. 1t was explained that hogs ate
more than man. and. therefore, must
be sacrificed in a time of great need.
BY stringent order all plots of ground
all window gardens and Conservatives
have been given over to the planting OF
vegetab les. and Die Neue Zeit recOuntS
the fact that one woman. noted as eX'
pert grower OF roses had been forced tC
turn her garden over to the cultivation
OF potatoes. Here again the marvellous
faculty for system possessed by the Ger
mans Is shown. Agricultural experts
after a conference. determined upon the
number of potatoes to he planted In q
given area. that the best croD might bC
obtained. and orders were issued tha'
the regulations fixed nv the agricul
turists be followed out
Little Food for Aged.
The food allowed to those who do no
work is not as great in quantity as tina
allowed to workers. The aged and indi
gent who are in institutions or reside
with their famil es are permitted bu
scant ratlons. the allowance being ba SCI
on tho results Of the experiments con
Quoted by the scientists At the Berlin
convention.
When the sdict regarding the foO'