New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-08-05
THE SITUATION IN GERMANY

1t seems that the truth abou,
the economic situation i'm Germ
any will not be known until tn,
war is over. Two presl,mabl,
impartial witnesses recently ar.
rivlnv in this country have made
directly contrary statements on
the subject. The plucky com.
mander of the Deutschland, who
presumably is not impartial, gives
roSeate view of conditions.
lie is not only sure that Germ
any is going TO win the war, b, I
also confident that he supply of
food. present and prospective. will
avert any real suffering from a
shortage. If he is right then. of
course. the protests from Berlin
against the British blockade as a
diabolical attempt to starve the
German people cannot be taken
seriously. Yet it would seem to
be nothing short of miracle for
a nation cut off from cOmmunica
ton by sea. except for such
blockade running as the DcUtsch-
land has achieved, and surround
ed on land by a narrowing circle
of foes. not to feel the pinch
acutely. This view is supported
by the statement Of the situation
made by a resident Of Rotterdam.
who is vouched for by "A CORE
spondent of the New York World
as speaking with complete and
up-to-date knowledge.
"This is rather amazing says
the Philadelphia Ledger, "after
all that has been said of the abil-
ity of Germany to live on her
self for an indefinite period, and
Of the scientific skill with which
every possibility has been utilized.
There are however. s the 'nertrl
trder' points out. four different
classes to be considered as re-
CARDS food conditions: first, the
producers Of the food. who are
bound to feed themselves any
way, and who are some twenty
millions in number: second, the
fifteen million soldiers and Off
cials--a favored class; third. the
five million odd rich people. who
can buy food in any country. so
long as it is there; and, fourth,
the industrial workers not in
government employ, the shop
keepers and all the rest Of the
population. amounting to twen-
ty-five millions. These are they
who in this emergency bear the
brunt of the burden, whatever it |
is. There is no little support for !
this view from various utterances
from German sources, especially !
sOcialistic. Nor are the stories Of
food riots in Munich and else
where without grim significance.
If the German people. as a whole,
are once convinced that they are
losing. not winning. the war; that
their tremendous sacrifices are in
vain. then indeed the economic
pressure might compel the gov
rrnment to accept any terms Of
peace that it could get"
All things considered it seems
that the full seriousness of the sit
nation will not be realized until
The war is over. It is believed
hat the supply of food and ma
,erials of every kind has been so
diminished that even peace will
ring troubles, for manufacture
ng cannot be resumed without
that it may take months
,r years to get. Possibly this
rev is too gloomy. because it IS
lot likely that the energy the
iermans have shown in the war
will fail them in the work of re- {
,airing the ravages Of the great
onfict. Yet the evidence that
Germany is in hard straits can ,
% the disregarded, no matter .
ow confidently she may try to
onceal it from the rest Of the !:
i.