New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-03
ROBBING POLAND.
An Answer to Lord Robert Cecil
Accusations.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue of the 18th you PRINT
n lengthy report OF the accusations raised
by Lord Robert Cecil against Germany for
"robbing Poland Of food" These charges
are identical with those previously made by
the British Prime Minister, and Of which
great deal has been heard in the United
States. In this sense | agree that as your
article starts, the Americans have heard
one side of the situation" But | do not
think that it is the German side that has
been heard. May | therefore crave some
space in your esteemed paper TO present
the German defence against these British
charges? This defence has been made by the
German government in a communique to
"The North German Gazette" which reads,
in part as follows:
"The above mentioned notion that the
country, when left alone, has sufficient food
stufs is not in accordance with the facts.
In the Government General OF Warsaw there
are, besides 100000 peasants, 100000 FAC
tory workers and city inhabitants living IN
the big industrial centres of Warsaw, LodZ,
Bendzn and Czenstochows. Even in peace
times the bulk OF this industrial population
is not fed by the country itself, but from
the interior parts Of Russia. In the present
time of war considering the general reduc-
ton of consumption. the country would be
able to feed itself il the harvest had not
been heavily damaged through months Of
fighting and through the systematic devas-
tation wrought by the retreating Russian
h. OF n q
industrial centres and the cities, amounting
to 100000 people, has more or less to
live on the produce of the northwestern part
of the Government General. Since a year,
that part of the country is under German ad-
ministration, and has been properly cultivated.
All the remaining portion of the land, where
the battles were fought and through which
the Russians retreated, is not in position
10 contribute 10 the feeding OF the big cities,
but itself requires to be supplied with grain.
As far as the fields have been titled at all in
the fighting zone, most of the harvest was
DESTROYED as a consequence OF the military
actions, while in the parts through which
the Russian armies retrested fire was set,
by order OF those in command, to almost
all the granaries Of the large estates.
"The resulting famine conditions are, there
fore, due TO the Russian army whereas the
German administration has done everything
in it's power, and is still continuing its eff
forts. 70 assist the population during these
hard times. II is, however, inevitable. owing
to the above described facts, that the city
population which has to be provided for till
the new harvest can only receive very small
rations of -four. While at first these amount
ed to 145 grammes (47 ounces) of grain -four
and 35 grammes II ounces) of potato -four,
since February 10. the ration of grain -four
has been reduced TO us grammes (37
ounces). while the allowance of potato -four
remains unchanged. The total present
amount of bread -four, grain and potato
-four taken together is $50 grammes (4s
ounces). These rations are, Of course, in
sufficient, If compared with what the popula-
ton is accustomed to, and subject it to con-
siderable hardships, which the German gov
eminent, however much II regrets them, can
not alter"
In reference to the article in "The London
Times" on which Lord Robert Cecil bases
his reservations. and which was also the
basis OF the charges made by the British
Prime Minister, the German communique
says:
THE actual foundation for these state
ments is the grain supply system which the
German administration had to adopt in view
Of the undeveloped railway net and the
prevailing milling conditions OF the country
at is true that the larger part Of the Polish
grain is exported TO Germany from the
northwestern districts, where there is a sur
plus It is an error. however, to assume that
the grain stays in Germany. The exported
grain is simply ground in the modern Ger
man mills situated near the border, from
where the flour, without exception. is re-
turned 10 the large Polish cities. There are
two reasons for this procedure. The only
means OF communication in most OF the dis
tricts which produce a surplus OF grain are
the railway lines which were built from the
German side in the rear Of the advancing
armies. More important still is the fact
that the Polish milling industry is not capa-
bio Of handling the Polish grain under the