The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-09
NEW GERMAN
FOOD CRISIS
The Rations to Each Person
Are Cut to a Min
imum
PROSPECTS OF A
POOR HARVEST
Eggs, Tea, Coffee and Cocoa
Are Almost Non
Existent

| Paris, June 9-The actual food condi
tions of the present day in Germany, g
scarcity that increases monthly as the
livestock decreases; the prospective poor
crops for 1917 because of the shortage
of labor, the German viewpoint concern
ing peace, and the attitude toward revo.
luton, coupled with prediction that the
German public may lose confidence in
the infallibility of it's leaders, are pre-
sented in the Journal DIES Debate by Dr.
Aristides Aguero, Cuban resident minis.
ter in Berlin since the beginning of the
war, but who is now returning home.
DR.. Aguero not only spent virtually all
the months of the war in Germany the
exception being brief time passed in
the United States, but also lived in Ber-
lin from 1904 to 1911 as Cuban charge
d'affaires. He begins his account with
resume of the actual food allowance in
Berlin to-day.
Here" says Dr. Aguero care the most
recent figures; 65 grammes (about eight
ouncesl of meat, so of bread and two or
three potatoes, if one can get them. Even
the dearest restaurants are forbidden to
offer more than one meat, and there is
no hope of their eyading this rule The
internationally known restaurant, Kew
pinski, was an offender and the proprie-
tor of it is now serving three months in
prison after having paid fine of $4,000
for serving extra bread The director of
the aristocratic Hotel Esplanade is now
serving sentence of year in Jail after
similar fine, having been convicted OF
serving items of food not on the menu.
Eggs are non existent, as also is milk.
Vegetables are excessively scarce and
rare foods are not to be had by persons
of tiny purses. A small meal costs from
three to four dollars in the restaurants
Sixty-five grammes OF meat cost dol
lar and quarter, an order of vegeta bles
60 cents, and soup 40 cents. Chocolate,
coffee and tea also are non-existent.
Fruits are as rare as vegetables, because
the supplies have been rcquisitioned by
the government for the army.
For every element of the civil popula-
tlpHs VI bIe hpEldi tidH- W
which it belongs, the daily ration at the
time of my departure consisted of $50
grammes of bread, 80 grammes of meat,
$50 grammes of potatoes, 10 grammes Of
fat and eight grammes of sugar. One
egg monthly was allowed and one por
ton of war marmalade monthly. OF this |
quantity one received less, rather than
more. Little children and invalids, the
latter by presentation of medical certif |
Gates, can get milk, when there is any.
"The 100000 mich cows on hand |
before the war have decreased to 5000 |
300. These are suffering from lack of
food, while the average milk given by |
each COW has dropped from seven and
sight litres to four and five litres. Ger
many, before the war, had 27,000,000
head of cattle, 10 per cent of which were
sacrificed in November, 1916, and the
number has since fallen to 100000.
Thirty per cent of the 25000,O00 swine
rave been slaughtered since the war, but
he number of swine has risen to 90
100000 on account of the prolific qualities
II the animal. The 100000 sheep have
disappeared entirely, while the 100000
,oats have fallen off TO 100000.
"The coming crop will be very medic
re, because all the labor has to be per-
ormed by women and French and Rus
ian prisoners The soil is also suffering
rom a lack of real nitrates, the nitrates
produced being far inferior
o the previously imported product. He
stimates that production has retro
raded at least 81 per cent per hectare.
"Privations. however, have not as yet
ffected the German morale, and the al
les must not count upon such a contin
ency. The German accepts and consents
o submit to discipline which the Latin
you'd not think of submitting to. The
Ierman thinks he must fight to the last
reath and the last man, because he be-
ewes this war is a matter of life or
cath for Germany. He believes that If
e is vanquished Germany will be divid
among France, Russia. Belgium, Italy
nd Denmark and that all remaining will
e small portions of Prussia, with Ber-
n as the capital. This idea has been
ropagated from the top to bottom in
n classes of society by means of the
ress, in public conferences, in schools,
Universities. lyceums and moving pic
ires. This opinion has been driven into
ie head of every German citizen and
othing can eradicate it.
"The German people is an obedient and
people. But do not deceive
ourself, do not fall into the too common
TOR. He is not obedient and disciplined
ON the spirit of servitude, but from
is confidence and faith in the capacity,
kill and superiority of his chiefs. That
the prestige Of the Prussian bureauc-
lev and it is the same for all Germany.
Bavaria and Ssxony the mentality is
Ie same. but | do not say that this is
Ie immutable state of mind. The day
hen the German people becomes con
need of the lack OF skill of its leaders,
hen il perceives the fallibility Of impe-
al leadership it viii not support it any
ore. The German is profoundly in
he will not consent to sac
fees when they appear useless and it
ay be believed that on the day Of de-
at he will demand an accounting of his
fTerings for which he has paid so dear
:"