The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-13
But Food Problem Grows With
Critical Intensity.
Half Pound of Meat a Week Is
Official Allowance.
SAUERKRAUT FAMINE THERE |
Fat Goose Sells for $50; Chick
ems $1.3O Per Pound.
Now Vegetable Supply Wanes-
Poor Already Suffer.

Berne, Feb. 13.-Americans who
arrived here from Germany with Am
bassador Gerard are congratulating
themselves on having escaped further
wrestling with Germany's food prob
lem. Meat is now so scarce in the
German capital that it is never hung
in windows to attract buyers, but is
speedily distributed without advertis-
ing.
Practically all meat is sold on
card emitting each person to half a
pound weekly, but dishes made of
kidneys, lungs and other scraps can
be bought in restaurants without a
card Game and poultry are exempt
from the card system and command
exorbitant prices The maximum
prices for pork and mutton range
from so to 20 cents. but a dollar more
is paid at back doors, for despite Ger
rnany's genius for organization, much
surrep+itious dealing prevails. Even
German officials, usually models of the
strictest obedience to the laws, give
hungry children the advantage of a
loose Interpretation and do not put
awkward questions.
Are Children Under Nourished?
The rich, of course suffer little.
Turkeys, geese and chickens are still
displayed in poultererS' windows and
bear labels announcing that they can
be purchased at from S1.30 to $1.60
"a pound. Cases have been reported
where a fat goose brought more than
$50. The poorer. people, especially at
Berlin, are undoubtedly suffering from
hunger, as their food is confined
mainly to bread, potatoes, turnips and
low grade marmalade. One seldom
sees any visible marks of underfeed-
ing. Some elderly persons and some
anxious mothers look emaciated and
reduced in. weight. A common ques-
ton asked when friends meet is:
How many pounds have you lost?'
Physicians are writing in the med
ical journals that children are now
evidently under nourished particular
ly lacking fats, yet merry shedding
throngs in the parks during the last
month never suggested lack of food.
The general verdict is that the
health of the people is better than
before the war when overeating had
almost assumed the character of
national besetting sin. The short ra-
lions are borne cheerfully-
Next Four Months the Test.
Men in authority. however. recog-
nize that Germany is confronted with
a problem of growing difficulty. The
next four months are regarded as es-
pecially critical because the supply of
vegetables, except potatoes and tur-
nips is practically exhausted. Even
sauerkraut can not be bought in shops
but is only doled out by the author
tiles at intervals.
The difficulties of the situation,
however, have not altered the Conf
dence of the authorities that the ex-
listing supplies will suffice until the
next crop by careful outstanding. One
of the most critical factors is the
shortage of the 1916 potato crop,
which was only two-fifthS that of
1915. This shortage necessitated the
prohibition of feeding potatoes to live
stock with the result that vast num-
bers of pigs were prematurely slaugh-
tered. Yet, as the number of pigs in
crease in 1916 up to September by
nearly 100000 the country seems to
have an ample meat margin on the
present reduced scale of consumption.
German People Weary OF War.
Rotterdam, Feb. - (via London,
Feb. 13).-Two Americans who have
reached Rotterdam since the break in
diplomatic relations between Germany
and the United States-altho in both
cases their passports had been applied
for before the rupture-gave similar
accounts of present cohditioHS,in Ger
many to the Associated Press today.
the other from Frankfort. Each had
been in Germany a little more than
year and in that time each man lost
thirty pounds in weight.
Theodore Wurslin, an engineer of
Jamaica, n. Y, said his experiences
with working men in Berlin showed
him that they were tired of the war,
but nevertheless determined to hold
out. Many of them earn good wages,
virtually all of which they spend for
/ food and they are thus better oft than
persons higher in the social scale. Mr.
Wurslin said he had often seen groups
of French, British and Russian war
prisoners, especially Russians, sweep
ing streets, carting goods and per-
forming other labor. He said they
were never molested or insulted.
Americans Safe in Germany.
OF Mr.. Wurslin's ten American asso-
ciates, about half had decided to re-
main in Germany, whatever hap
pened. The other American is a New
York business man, who said the food
situation was very bad in Frankfort
He told narrowing stories of the hard
ships undergone by the people. who,
he said, were utterly weary of the
war, but entirely devoted to the mill
tary leaders
Both these men asserted that the
break between Germany and America
had caused no excitement, that Amer,
leans in Germany were being we'll
treated and that no apprehension need
be felt for the welfare of those left
behind.
While agreeing that most articles of
food were still to be had by persons
with well filled purses. they said the
poorer classes were suffering, but that
the country was not near the starva-
ton point: