Evening star., 1917-01-07

as the Germans destroy. Even the pur-
chase and requisitionins OF ships Of her
allies has failed to remedy the situation,
it is reliably stated.
Britain is far better able to meet such
economic demands as may be made upon
her from her people and peoples of allied
still can stand the destruction Of hum
dreds of thousands Of tons of shipping
before the German hope Of starving John
Bull can even approximate success.
nations for r supplies Of foods and funds
for their purchase. The burden the Brit
ish empire has taken on her shoulders in
this respect is huge one. With the les
fcient foods for her own use. naturally
comes the lesseninG of her ability to- sup
ply her allies in that proportion agreed
upon in the conference Of Paris.
Italy possibly still Ii the keen suf-
ferer for this reason italy has de-
pended in q
Italy Has Been large measure
Great Sufferer. ity to keep hsr
transport lines running. England has
not always been able to maintain, the
Italian standard Of living. by any
means. There has been much dissatis-
faction in Rome and other Italian
towns at various periods during the
war because of the apparent failure Of
England to live up to all promises
made before the Italians cast their lot
with the entente. Germany, it is de-
clared,. through secret diplomatic ennis
saries, frequently has endeayored to
stir disanection In Italy against Brit
ain, with the hope of enscting sepa-
rate peace: but these efforts to take
advantage Of the Italian economic sit
uation so far have dismaIly failed.
Possibly Of all the entente powers
arrayed against Germany Russia has
gone through the greatest hardships.
The larger cities of Russia, though un-
dergotngs many inconveniences. have
not been the victims Of the war to such
a great extent as have the moro iso-
lated sections of the nation. There
was during the first months Of the
struggle woeful lack OF official sue
cess in dealing with transportation and
distribution OF food supplies. Condf-
tions In the outlying communities were
severe, and not until recent months
has there been much success In prop
erly feeding the civilian population.
The problems Of transportation and dis
tribution, as always will be the case
until there are more interlocking rail-
roads in Russia, continues a serious
problem; but there possibly Is less dis
content among the Russian peoples
months ago. II such advices from Rus
been permitted to emanate from RUS
sian news centers are correct.
Bulgaria, as her Germanic allies, is a
keen sufferer from the lack OF foods.
Rumanians, deprived Of their great
sources OF supply. now necessarily must
increase the Russian burden of vic
tualing those people within her bor.
ders. Serbian soldiers are being fed
by the entente powers. while such Ser
bian peoples as have remained within
their own borders have been Living q
precarious existence. -.
Thus IL may be seen that the whole
of Europe. even neutral countries being
not entirely exempt from food short
ages. il suffering deprivations to q
greater or less degree.
Now the question which must be de.
cided Is: Which of the bentgerent
the point of hunger alone. to bow its
head to enemy might? f.-' Hs =
The entente powers have means of
! always obtaining food stores from all
over the world to augment their own
production, even though their ability
to marshal both in the battle against
hunger may not be sufficient to en-
tireIy remove the element of want.
Germany has not. She must depend
on her own soil. that Of her allies and
7
obtain supplies for many millions of
people. The British blockade prevents
her from obtaining material stores
from the outside world.
German ingenuity. German concen-
tration. German industry and German
science have done wonderful things In
/, past years. but naturally the question
i arises as to whether the government
! will be able. by every effort and every
force. to surmount the food difYicuities
| the nation faces.
No less person than Emperor Will
liam. in his war proclamations to his
people, haa
Emperor Hints limited the
Economic Struggle. nomic s,rus.
giles which the people must en-.
dure II the nation Is to emerge from
the present struggle victorious. as he
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