The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-02-22
GERMAN FOOD SITUATION.
Pinch of Hunger Becomes Daily Ac-
compartment of War.

changed greatly for the worse IN the
last FIVE months. The correspondent
of the Associated Press, who had been
away from Germany since the nlsI
week in August, has just returned
from a stay of three weeks IN Berlln.
He found that many staples OF 1000
had altogether disappeared from the
markets, others had grown so dear
that they are beyond the reach OF
anv except the we'll to do, the daily
allowance of potatoes had been re-
duced to ten ounces and that either
a shortage of flour or a disordered
distribution of it among the bakers
had resulted in long queues of buyers
standing for hours in front of the
bakeries.
Maximum prices of the foodstuf1s
controlled by the government are
still very low for potatoes and oreao
and comparatively low for meats.
Potatoes cost only u cents the stan
dard bushel of 60 pounds and bread
a little less than 12 cents pound.
But the potato allowance is lnsut-
ficient for persons who have little ex-
cept bread and potatoes to eat, and
has to be eked out with turnips. 1t
had been hoped to allow one egg
person each two weeks in Greater
Berlin, but the last one-egg allow
ance was made some five weeks ago
and another is not promised until
February. When the correspondent
left Berlin in August it was still pos
sible to buy cheese. Since the end
of August there has been no cheese
on the market. 1t is said that con-
siderable quantities are being i'm
ported from Holland but it goes ap-
parently to the front except for
small quantities allowed the restau-
rants and hotels.
Canned Stuff Short.
Another serious reduction of avail
able foodstuffs has been the eXpro-
priation of control by the govern
ment of all canned vegetables. Four
or five weeks ago the dealers were
permitted to sell fractional part of
their stock but only two cans on
each bread card. Permission to sell
more is expected to be granted again
soon but the dealers are to be COM
PEELED to open each can before sell
ing it so as to force the buyers to
consume It at once and not hoard it.
The weekly allowance of meat of
all kinds in the greater Berlin munic-
ipalities runs from IA to 3-4
ounces. The cheapest varieties cost
about 60 cents a pound; the highest
72 cents.
One of the most serious depriva-
tions continues to be lack of fats and
oils. The weekly allowance of but
ter and margarine together is little
less than three ounces person. Oil
is so expensive that it is out of reach
of the great majority. The Associat-
ed Press correspondent paid S3.12
for about two-thirds of pint of
hazelnut oil to be used for frying.
Goose fat costs $3.50 can of II 3-5
ounces and is the only fat except
vegetable oils that can be bought
without card.
This insuficiency of fats in the
daily ration shows itself in an almost
continuous feeling of hunger. The
correspondent, experiencing this him
self in the first days of his visit, re-
marked on it.
Hungry All the Time.
Il feel hungry all the time," said
the person addressed.
Extending his investigation, the
correspondent heard similar express
sions from all sides. The most bitter
complaints came from soldiers at
home. When the writer last visited
the front in July the mems rations
were ample in every respect and
there is no reason to believe the same
is not true today. The soldier at
home thus notices the difference
more keenly than do those who have
gradually to accustom themselves to
one deprivation after another.
There is deadly monotony about
meals in the average household.
Breakfast generally consists of rolls,
marmalade, foften made of pump
kinsl and a decoction of roasted
acorns, rye, chicory and what not
that goes by the name of coffee.
There is no real coffee left. Some
tea at high prices is still to be had
but the poorer people drink brew
of linden blossoms, raspberry leaves
~ 1oo1,oe 30 o+hor he