Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-23

ERLIN Nov. 10, 1916.-Tortilovitz Won batochl
* must be named along with DR.. Won Bethmann-
- HoIweg, Hindenburg and Mackensen in any emu
meration of German leaders There are many VINO
think that head the list for no man IN
Central Europe had to cope with more dl1ncult
problem than the dictator who has far success
fully against starvation 100000 people ana
the destinies of empire The imperial chancellor
himself carried greater load OF responsibility
than president of the sustenance ONCE VINO Is
despot kitchen and guardian OF the Ger
stomach
Last spring and early summer, in the beginning of
Batockis reign, all Germany watched fearfuny the
leaden in the chilling rains in antic
patton of a harvest, which meant starvation a
time misery and the deathblow to the hopes
of a nation. The from the last harvest poor
harvest were rapidly depicting and were being doed
out in ever lessening rations And through May and
early June day after day. and day after day
the refused to show itself
Fear spread among the people Articles in the news
papers the food values of hitherto unused
herbs and roots certain tree barks. Even the
exhausted coffee grounds saved to be prepared
feed for cattle The quality of the war-bread sank
The naval experts, the newspapers, the man-n-the-
street insistenty demanded that Germany should
starve without striking fearful blow in self-de-
fense submarine warfare against merchant ship
ping should be resumed freed from all restrictions
dreary, forlorn situation Batock, bureau
crat of Prussia, summoned to take charge.
BatocI was given such broad powers practically
him subordinate only to the imperial chancel-
The people first however, did not realize the
Importance farreaching of the offcial
Batoc of Polish descent is above all tactfu and
thoroughly versed in the of human nature He
began by taking the people into his
confidence issuing optimistic interviews,
circulated throughout the of the
try. this he testified his admiration for American
methods.
shortly after appointment of the dictator,
articles began appear the purporng de-
scribe bad food conditions in England, Russia and
France Likewise appeared a flood of articles urging
everybody to contribute the general production of
food Village papers advised all their readers breed
goats, and themselves of milk supply by
keeping least female goat Other articles pointed
there good reasons for the suburbante
to neglect farming his grass plot
to prevent him from breeding chickens and geese for
his own use
This press work of the dictator productive
Of results Many there VINO became cheered
that they forgot to grumble while many Others when
they had been shown way to help themselves,
began plant all of things in all of
places 1t was not an uncommon thing to find grass
plot 20x2O feet, transformed into potato patch
appeared everywhere Even apartment house jewellers
neighboring country, strips
of land and became farmers poutrymen. While the
total of produce added to the empires stock by
these novces likely not the effect
occupying peoples attention calming them was
important, also training they got prepar-
ing become serious helpers produc-
ton of the year
Batocki thoroughly trained III the of Ger
man bureaucracy, and authority the laws
precedents of German administration. Moreover,
was thoroughly acquainted with the agriculture
Germany with its past productions and its possibilities.
Early in his administration he determined that one
system of food and of distribution
over the whole empire. He undertook a
country, order to acquant himself with conditions
the states and to prepare the people for
acceptance of his organization. Bavaria looked with
suspicion upon any plan that should call upon her to
share her produce with the less
Saxony or unproductve districts in Prussia