Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-20
FOOD ALLOWANCE
SCANT IN GERMANY
Civilians Not Starving, But Sit
uation Described as "Far
From Pleasant"
PEOPLE TAKE HEROIC VIEW

By the Associated Press.
GENEVA. Switzerland. via London,
February 20-The food situation in
Germany may not grow worse, but it.
scarcely can become better. This is the
feature of Germany's great
problem.
The German people as yet are not
in adequate quantities to support life,
while In the case of further decrease in
available supplies there is still the in
stitution of compulsory soup kitch-
ens," the most economical method of
making all foodstuffs go as far as pos
sible, to stand between Germany and
any forced termination to the war
through an absolute lack Of food.
Life for the civilian population OF
Germany on the present scanty allow
ance of food, however, is Tar from
pleasant. though the German newspa-
pers are fond of referring to conditions
this winter and last winter as e1cep-
tional They also say that the short
rations are due largely to bad har-
vests and like to intimate that normal
coming summer may end the principal
food difficulties.
Allowance Not Increased.
Many agricultural experts believe
that the central empires did quite as
well in both years as could be expect
ed and that the populations Of Germany
and Austria Hungary must reconcile
to getting along during the
coming harvest year on no greater al
81 ct Nhn N avr1
as frankly discussed in agricultural
circles and as outlined in recent circu-
lar of the Prussian ministry OF agri-
culture, Is not one of more land Tor
crops. but one of labor and fertilizer to
cultivate the land already available
Even the normal supply of potash
fertilizing material indigenous to Ger
many in great Quantities-win not be
available the coming season. owing to
the labor shortage. The many factories
producing nitrogen from the air will
not be able to produce enough nftrates
by far, in view of the ammunition re-
quirements to replace the nitrates nor
mally imported from Chile for agricul-
tural purposes and other imported fer
tilizers.
The decidedly short supply of labor.
even by working every available prfs-
oner of war and the Inhabitants OF oc-
cupied districts. is not enough Tor the
intensive cultivation which made Ger
many a world leader in big crop farm
ing.
No Prospect of Bigger Crops.
Grafton it is highly improbable that
there will be any increase in general
crop production over 1916 and 1915
Weather conditions may. as in 1915,
produce a bumper potato crop and
poor grain crop, or the reverse results.
as in 1916. but the general result prob
ably will be about the same.
Very little help. Adolph Won Batocki.
president of the food regulation board,
stated in recent address. can be ex-
pected from outside sources in the fu-
ture. Neighborfng countries. he said,
being under the steadily increasing
pressure Off the British sea control,
would have little or nothing available
for export to Germany this year. and
the Germans must pull in their belts
notch tighter and reconcile themselves
The food expert of New Cologne, one
of the municipalities of greater Ber-
lin. stated recently, in fact. that the
current allowance Of meat, fat, bread
and potatoes was inadequate for work
ingmen engaged in heavy labor and
that men SO employed required sup
Elementary allowance which. however,
the factories managed usually to sup
ply in order to maintain production.
People Holding Out Well"
So far, the people of Germany are
holding out well, though with great
deal of grumbiing in urban and indus
trial 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
counts of unimportant demonstrations.
As to the actual conditions: Potato
stocks, under the ration of five pounds
weekly. to which the authorities plan
to return as soon as turnips are offered
as winter substitute, will barely last
until the advent of spring. Early sum-
mer vegetables and turnips have
proved very unf1lling substitute for
potatoes. so the food authorities have
been forced to augment the bread and
flour rations to make up the disparity.
This drawing upon the grain supplies
is to such an extent that even with the
help of grain obtained from Rumania
there will be no reserve stock of grain
to carry over into the new crop year.
Probable Meat Ration.
The meat ration may and probably
will be increased from the present $50
grams, or half a 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 win
ter in an impoverished condition, be-
cause 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
year
There is, of course, a large quantity
of food in the country which does not
come into the governmental food dis
tribution system. The country popu-
lation and the inhabitants. of small