Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-05
By Carl w. Ackerman

Omitted Press staff correspondent)
Berlin,via wireless to Sayville, May
27. (Delaypd.) .)-Civilians in Germany
must eat no meat for the next eight
weeks, Herr Adolph Won Batoeki, Ger
many's new food Dictator now hold
ing one Of the most important posts in
the empire, told the United Press to-
day, in frank discussion Of tho food
situation as he found II on assuming
office last week.
This regulation, the new food minis
ter said, should cause no alarm in Ger.
many and no elation in the camps of
Germany's enemies.
"lt the coming harvest is only me-
diuIn,'' he said, "the starvation Of
Germany through the British blockade
is out of the question, !"
''The seige" Of Germany, Herr Won
Batocki said, has just begun. The
coming eight weeks may cause some
discomfort to those Germans who are
fond of meat. Furthermore, the meat
shortage is apt to continue for at least
three months, he declared frankly
"The cattle are lean now, because
of a poor harvest in 1915, he said.
"They cannot be slaughtered now. We
must wait until they are fattened on
pasturage But meanwhile we have
enough meat for our military hospitals
and places waere il is urgently need
ed.
"At all events there is enough food
in Germany, but it is necessary that
civilians eat no meat for the next eight
weeks Starvation is out of the ques-
tion, but we must consider not only the
present food situation but the situation
during the coming wner. In order to
insure a supply for this winter, we must
eat meat sparingly during the Summer.
Probably meat cards will be issued
throughout Germany and there will be
few meatless weeks
.'The cause Of the present shortage
is the bad harvest last year If the
harvest this year is even medium, the
food situation will begin to improve
the middle Of July or the first Of Au-
gust
Herr Won Batocki's joo is TO take
the strangle hold out Of the British
blockade. lie must prevent the star
walton Of Germany by her enemies. He
must provide equitable distribution Of
the nation s food supplies. He has
done much already and by keeping
the public well informed regarding the
food situation and obtaining public CO.
operation, he expects to do muen more
To undertake this task, an American
must imagine the United States block
I AIDED, no corn to fatten the cattle and
each person provided with half a pound
of meat, a fifth Of a pound OF butter,
war bread and plenty Of vegetables
each wook. lie must imagine, too, that
the United States is at war, with all
her able bodied men fighting and two
million prisoners, the population Of PO-
land, besides sixty five million Amer
leans TO feed Then he must imagine
the lob confronting national food de-
lpartment with authority to regulate
what one buys and eats.
Next sunday, representatives OF the
larger German cities will come 10 Ber-
lin for conference at which arrange
ments will be made for the establish
ment of food depots, where cooked food
will be sold at cost. This scheme has
been tried already in some places with
GOOD results. Travellers arriving from
the rural districts report the crop pros
lpects excellent. The farmers dcelore
the present weather gift from provi'
dcnce to the German people. Ambas-
saGor Gerard, returning from his aunt
ling lodge, reported the rye four feet
lhiph