The Elbert County tribune., 1916-11-17
Pro-AlIy Swiss Writer Makes
Study of Conditions
in Empire.
FOOD SITUATION LESS ACUTE
Far Better off Than Allies From Eco
nomical and Industrial Standpoint
Situation in Theaters of War
Also Favorable.

Berne.-The editor of the Ticino Ga
zette, Swiss paper which has sup
ported the cause of the allies since the
Germany to study the military and
economic conditions there. On his re-
turn he writes:
THE French and English claims that
the favorable reports about the Ger
man harvest were colored to deceive
the world are unfounded. l have con-
vinced myself that the crops are plenu-
full throughout the empire.
"The wheat harvested will last at
least year and the quantity of barley
and oats on hand is larger than after
the harvest of the first year of the war.
The potato crop seems to be below the
average, but there is an abundance of
sugar beets and fodder of all kinds for
the cattle.
Becomes Less Acute.
"As result of the good harvest the
number of hogs has increased several
millions since July and the fat and
meat question steadily becomes less
acute. Eggs, like butter and all other
fats, still remain scarce, but Bulgaria
and Turkey are sending enormous
quantities.
"The distribution of foodstuffs is or
ganized perfectly and the missing ar
ticles, like tea and coffee, have been
replaced by substitutes. Nobody COM
plains of the high food prices, because
all wages have increased correspond
ingly.
German industry is in excellent con-
dition. Factories are working day and
night. There is plenty of coal and iron
and the scarcity of Nickel rubber and
other articles Is not felt very much, be-
cause German science has found sub
stitutes.
"The fact that the largest part of the
war expenses always flows back into
the pockets of the people has created
a favorable situation for Germany. The
empire is far better Off than the allied
countries, which have to get much of
| their food supplies and war materials
from the neutral countries Mt an enor-
nous cost. The war has Impoverished
Europe, but Germany has suffered least
In this respect and will never break
down economically.
Favorable to Germans.
"In different theaters of war the
situation also remains favorable to the
Germans. Their lines In the east md
west are unbroken, and In their cam
paign against Roumania they are sue
cessfully repeating the sledge-hammer
tactics they used last year against
Serbia. In Galicia they have stopped
the costly Russian offensive completely
and In Macedonia they and their Bull
garian allies hold the British, French,
Serbian, Russian and Italian armies in
check.
''The hope of the allies to wear Ger
many out through continuous attacks
on all fronts cannot be realized unless
they are willing to sacrifice millions of
men. They are far more liable to be-
come exhausted than the Germans, who
are able to husband their reserves by
keeping themselves on the defensive as
long as they desire.
"Much as we may desire victory
for the allies we cannot close our ores
to the fact that the realization of tnis
wish seems afInost impossible.
"The war has become n useless,
senseless slaughter. 1t Is the duty of
the neutral nations to intervene and
end the struggle by mediation, If heroic,
self-sacriflcing France is not to bleed
to DEATH"