New-York tribune., 1916-06-04
Shortage of Raw Material
Brings End of Rope
in Sight.
ALL INDUSTRIES
FEEL WAR PINCH
Cost of Living Steadily Raised
Until II Has Become Almost
Unbearable.
lrron N, rrlsnne Rurs.u ]

here tnAt, Win pAlNto va
constantly increasing, with a serious
lack Of raw material and with a de-
Iciency of skilled labor, Germahy's dc
eision to continue fighting or to sue
for peace rests on her ability TO sus-
tain herself
Germany has been living under re-
strictions for approximately twenty
two months. For about fourteen
months she has been cut Of almost en-
tirely from the commercial world. De-
spite the quantities OF products tha'
have been shipped into Germany from
neutral European countries, the haSY
stores Of supplies Of foodstuas and
rsw materials on hand at the begin
ming Of the war have dwindled, UNI.
she finds herself nearly "strengie9'
peace feelers' pat out IN recent
months by Germany arc regarded as o
strong indication that she is reaching
the end Of her rope.
Coins back four years 10 1917 nor
NAL period. Germany imported more
than $1,000. 100000 worth OF products
from the Allies, nearly S40o,OoO,oOO
worth from the neutral European couh-
tries. over S250,OOO,o0o worth from
south America, nearly S4Oo o,OO0'VOo
worth from Austria-Hungary aRd fur-
key, and upward Of S40O,oOO'O0O worth
from the United States.
AS Germany produces 50 per cent OF
her edible grains, including -four; -
psr cent each Of her meats and dairy
nroducts. 81 per cent Of her poultry ~
psr cent of her vegetables and IS per
cent of her fruits, the leading com
modities in her import trade are IA"
materials.
Without Raw Materials.
Shut of from the markets OF the
world. Gernsny's textile industries are
suffering from q shortage OF raw ma.
terial and an insufheient supply g
skiiled labor Germany has been SUI
fsrino from a lack Of cotton, not tor
military purposes. but for civil pur-
noses. The government saw TO It early
In the war that military needs were
supplied, and not only placed hmlta-
tons on the manufacture Of cotton ma
tsrials. but confiscated great stocks OF
tb;s product, causing many manu-
fscturers TO close their doors. one
half Of the hosiery mills in the empire
have shut down entirely, ana cotton
spinning mills in several parts o1 tne
empire are working an average OF oiiS
two or three days week ... -.
Germany will not be in position 70
dump" her textile proeucts INTO tne
saarksts Of the world. Lack OF essen
rsz1s
leatker. copper, oil, turpentlne, LUMBER
ete will prevent her manufacturers
from producing anything approaching
their customary amounts tor some
nonths after the war ends. All lndl-
rst;ons are that recuperation ana re-
erespizstion will progress so slowly
fbst the idea that huge quantity OF
German goods will be dumped on
American markets appears absurd.
Certain foreign products are abso-
lutely necessary 10 sustain OerHaH! >
industrial life. Among these are cot
ton. woel. lutte, hemp and SIX for tex
tile goods; copper, tin, nlckel ana otner
ores for machinery and electrical sup
niies: petroleum and all of its products
for light. heat, power and lubrlcauon;
rubher. hides and skins for industrlal
and domestic uses; wood and resin fer
The manufacture Of paper and paper
Goods; lumber. for building purposes;
coffee tea, rice and spices from the
tropical countries; wheat, corn, oats,
barlev. lard. butter and meats for food
purposes.
Internal Crisis Grave.
Germany has st least reached grave
internal crisis. The cost OF living
,hreucLout the empire has increased
ciose 10 100 per cent Many articles
cannot be obtained at all, while govern
ment regulations limit the sale OF many
spS fortse the sale of others. Meat
must Re sold on certain days OF the
week: bakers can obtain only llmIteo
ausntities Of flour, and bread can De
soli against cards only ana iimlteu IN
amount: baking Of many kinds or CAKE
and psstry is forbiddeni restaurants
csnnGt serve certain kinds OF meats on
certain days Of the week; dealers IN
milk. butter and eggs have very limit
ed quantities at their disposal; trade
in grain and -four 10 strictly regulated,
thsre is total absence o. white bread
drygoods stores cannot obtain the usual
Quantities Of goods, the same being the
case with almost every line OF trade,
supplies Of oatmeal and other breakfast
foods arc almost exhausted; lard IS as
scarce ss butter, prices have more than
doubled, and supplies for ordinary
household purposes are difficult 10 OBJ
tain; soap is plentiful. but the prices
have increased by 80 20 80 Ter cent;
butter is bringing 70 cents a pound;
cora, as food, iI unknown IN many parts
OF the empire; no dried or canned corn
can b. found ia some sections, and
pTises in nearly all restaurants have
increased 30 20 60 per cent, especially
IN the case OF foods requiring the use
OF fats, butter, eggs and milk in their
preparation.
With the call OF al able-Dodied men
30 the colors, agricultural work was
left 10 women, boys and aged men,
while need Of help in the textile plants
drew many Of the women and boys
frem the field. General crops for 1915
were Ioorer than for the previous ten
yesTs Much has been said Of the tre-
mcndcUF yield of potatoes, but q large
mart Of the crop was used in mshufac-
turing slcohol, and still more was fed
TO cattle.
An authority on political economy
recently has estimated that the cost Of
living in general has increased between
so ard 100 per cent Among unskilied
lsborers who can find no work m the
favored employments life Is increas-
;nely hard. and, although the poor have
been aided by governmental and pri-
vsfs relief organizations, the heavy
srtrs cost Of the bare necessities Of
life Ia a great burden.
During the normal year, 1912, Ger
-., ..-.erfsd firm, Austria Hungary