Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-11-05
GERMANY is
FACING. HUNGER
Country is Feeling Effects
of Blockade by Brit
ish Fleet
CROPS ARE CUT DOWN
Drastic Regulations Limiting Con-
sumption of Food Indicate Despe-
rate Plight of Nation
Limiting Con-

London, Nov. 5-Entirely upon the
evidence of their own latest official
publications, it is manifest that the
German food situation on the thres-
hold of the second winter of the war
;s much more serious than in Nov
ember. 1914.
The iron grip OF the British fleet.
and particularly the activities OF Al
miral Jellicoes submarines in the
Baltic: are making themselves felt.
say the British, as never before
A year ago it was unnecessary Tor
the Kaiser's government to resort 10
ANY more stringent regulations than
the introduction of bread cards ana
restriction on breadstuffs in general
on the ration basis. Such steps we.I
found advisable even at the end OF
the more than average good 1914 har-
vest. and while Germany was in pos
session of a vast reserve of Amer
can cereals imported as long before
, the war as April and May,
/ This year it was hoped the extra
ordinary extensive seeding and plant
mo and the conversion of every avail
able acre into agricultural lana
would produce crops which would pro-
vide the country with rs generous .
supply of farm products as German!
had on hand in November a year ago.
The Government figured that the
Fsthcrland would thus be able t.
tide over another winte: and spring
as successfully as before. But the
.l9l5 German crops fell little shor'
of failure. Despite the unpreceden-
tedy large acreage only the potato
harvest vas above normal.
The months of relentless diouth CT
the threshold of the harvest time
cor, pletely oblitcrated the prospects
of the expected bumper yield. INC
result is, according to the best lnfor-
nation available here, that while i
would eXaggerating to assert that
the Germans are face to face witt
starvation. they confront By TAR thS
rravest food conditions wherew!tl:
they have had to deal during the en-
tire period of the war.
The food laws decreed by the I'M
perial government. which are COMING
into force this week, certainly seer
TO tell their own story. They provide
for putting the Germans on rations
in practically all the great necessities
Of life.
The regulations for the restriction
the consumption of meat in the res
taurant and the sale of it in butcher
shops are the most drastic in the his
tory of the empire, if not in the his
tory OF any country. Potatoes have
practically been converted into 7
state monopoly.
The maximum price is fixed foi
butter at an unheard of high figure
65 cents a pound, and soon will be
for oleomargarine, cheese, eggs, laro
and similar commodities. The intro
duction of official butter cards. on tnt
bread ration system is imminent. Mill
commands prices which. the sociails
press declares, practically puts it he
yond the reach of the poorer classes
The municipality of Berlin has al
, ready taken steps to insure that sutFi
cient quantities q. normal cost shat
at least be available for nursin!
mothers, infants. invalids and other
to whom milk is necessity. Ever
FISH, poultry and game are being sub
jected to official price regulation.
The newspapers have been permit
ted TO discuss the food situation will
considerable freedom. All agree tn
German Government waited too Ion;
: to grapple with the problem. 1t is tn
: consensus of opinion that the agra
rian element in the Prussian province
the so-called "junkers'' who lon,
. waged war on American meats an,
grain. are almost as much responsible
: for the prevailing state of affair a
t the natural condition imposed by tn
war.
The land barons are openly accuses
Iof exploiting the nations hunger an