The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-02-17
FOOD SITUATION
IN GERMANY
(By~Associated Press.)

L
Geneva, Switzerland. via London,
Feb. 17.-While the German people
are not starving. life for the civilian
population is far from pleasant owing
| to the scanty food allowances.
Very little help, Adolph Won Ea-
tocki, president of the food regulation
board, stated in a recent address, can
be expected from outside sources in
the future. Neighboring countries, he
said, being under the steadily increas-
| ing pressure of the British sea con-
troll, would have little or nothing
available for export to Germany this
year and the Germans must pull in
their belts a notch tighter and recon-
cile themselves to holding out on pres
ent allowances.
The food expert of New Cologne,
one Of the municipalities of Greater
Berlin, stated recently, in fact, that
the current allowance of meat, fat,
bread and potatoes was inadequate for
working men engaged in heavy labor
and that men so employed required a
supplementary allowance which, how
ever, the factories managed usually to
supply in order to maintain produc-
ton.
So far the people of Germany are
holding out well, though with a great
deal Of grumbling in urban and in,
dustrial regions, where conditions are
worst. The German people are still
well disciplined and for the present
are not apt to give way to pressure
and to, abandon the war, in which they
now feel they are standing with their
backs to the wall with no alternative
except to, fight out the struggle for
national existence.
The government has had no trouble
of moment in keeping citizens to the
mark and food riots reported from
time to time in the foreign press are
either inventions or exaggerated ac-'
counts of unimportant demonstrations.
AS to actual conditions: Potato
stocks, under the ration of five pounds
weekly, to which the authorities plan
to return as soon as turnips are Of
fered as winter substitute, will bare
ly last until the advent of spring.
Early summer vegetables and turnips
have proved a very unfilling substi-
tute for potatoes, so the food authori-
ties have been forced to augment the
bread and -four rations to make up
the disparity. This drawing upon the
grain supplies is to such an extent
that even with the help of grain OBJ
tanned from Rumania there will be no
reserve stock of grain to carry over
into the new crop year.
The meat ration may and probably
will be increased from the present $50
grams, or half pound, to $50 grams
weekly, though at the expense of next
years prospective supply. There is
no hope for an increase in the rations
OF milk and butter. because, although
with green pasturage available in the
spring, the cattle may be turned out
to Craze, they will come through the
winter in an impoverished condition,
because potatoes, turnips and other
strong fodder has been taken from
them for human consumption. 1t also
is probable that little of such food can
be spared for the animals during the
coming year.
There is, of course, large quantity
of food in the country which does not
come into the governmental food dis
tribution system. The country popula-
ton and the inhabitants of small
towns in the agricultural regions are
far better off than residents of cities
and industrial centers without their
own sources of supply. The average
estate owner and small farmer 1t Is
safe to say, has so far from his own
acres been able to supply his needs
with virtually the same amount or
food for family consumption as In
peace times, and holds out enough
from the tentacles of Won Batockfs
food distribution machine to supply
his farm hands with normal rations or
meat, bread, potatoes, milk and cheese.
which they demand as a preliminary
condition to working.