The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1917-04-26
BABIES STARVE
IN The STREETS
Neutral Traveller Paints HarroW-
ing Picture of PitifuI Con-
ditionS in Vienna.
ONLY THE WEALTHY GET FOOD
Men, Women and Children Succumb
to Hunger and Want-GIoom and
Depression Weigh Heavily
on People.

on People.
LOndOn.-FrOm neutral who has
spent prolonged periods in Austria
hungary several times since the war
Berne correspondent learns that
never has the Austrian capital been
in such Q plight us now. Men, women
and even children lately have sue
| cumbcd to hunger and want, and he is
| assured that children have been lit
orally dying in the streets. Nowhere
is there enough to eat, he says, except
among the wealthy classes and the
well-tO-dO farmers. The organization
for the distribution of provisions is
wretchcd, despite the fact that a "Pco-
pies Food Onice" has existed in Wen
na since December l last.
According to the organ of the Whole
sale Purchasing Association of Aus
trian Consumers associations. prices
have risen, taking Austria as whole,
by 1O4.G1 per cent since the war be-
gan, put in Vienna proportiOnatcly far
more. 1t Is not merely that all ncccS-
sites have become SO exceedingly OK
penSirc, but that they are not procur-
able. The few who have money still
contrivc to purchase enough, bu, H..
great majority who have not money
either go constantly hungry or ,rprud
IN public kitchens, which since their
creation hay" supplied tn" poorer
classes in Vienna aloiI" with :iS 2J3S1J
meals. ut q total cost of about S.
10000.
474,3oo Dependents.
AT the end of 1916 there were also.
vienna alone. lIl,3OO persons in
receipt of government rclicr-grants
of aSSiSt;Incc-in other words, about
)ne in four of the entire population of
the Austrian capital. These govern
merit grants since the start of the war
until the end Of last year had reached
he sum of S5O,O0OOOO, besides which
here is n large number of destitute
refugees in Vienna who have cost the
state since the war began Sl1 ,G2J.OOO.
And yet the burgcrmciStcr of Vienna
aas just been warning the public that
hey must be prepared for worse times
still to come In the next two months.
The clothing question, especially tn"
problem of how to provide any kind
IF boots or shoes, is almost aS difficult
)f solution aS the IoOd question: Ac-
!reSseS and others. who before the
var went about in elegant fanciful
shoes, now are glad to wear any cast
bif fooiE"ar, or even clGthing. they can
get, as also are many girls and women
earning their living in Offices.
Even more acute is the fuel question
n AustriaIIungary.
The gloom and depression of Wen
IA, in short with its restricted tram
'ervicc, restricted electric lighting
ven in private hnuScS--limitrd gas
consumption and. worst of ALL restrict
al heating. with II degree of cold sell
iom experienced. is 50 distressing that
he neutral who tells this story said
I he had not been able to leave he
would have lost his reason.
Tn" hospitals, public and private,
ire ali ovcriill"d. and death is reaping
'r"rorti"nat"ly aS great harvest
lmong III" civilian population as
lmonS the soldiers at the front.
In Vienna, and, indeed in all the
arger Austrian cities. there are now
arge numbers of houses and business
premises to let. Moreover as little
'cmoNinG rs possible is done, because
his has become 50 costly owing To tho
shortage of labor, of vans and of
lorscS. In many cases young married
Women have returned To live with their
parents, or several women friends have
dubbed together 10 fake II fiat or house
Ii is not dwellings alone, however.
which are everywhere to let, hut rows