Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-11
GERMAN FOOD CRISIS
FORCING PEACE DRIVE

after the war. A reduction in the hoofed
stock has ben forced, however, by
shortage in the fodder crop. due to the
subnormal season, and by the impossi-
bility of securing oil cake from neutrals
on which to feed the cattle.
Furthermore, in order to feed the
people as they must be fed after two
years of bitter privation it was neces-
sary to cut short the rations to the
cattle.
For the year 1918 it may be assumed
that the Germans will have more food.
both of meat and meal, than in either
of the two years just passed. This
is directly at the expense of her food
capital, however, and, bearing in mind
the docility and courage with which
the Germans have withstood semi-star-
walton, the conclusion is not a far
fetched one that the German govern
ment has determined to find peace in the
twelve-month to come, if that peace
is to be found.
1t must not be thought from what
has been said that the present meat
ration is a considerable one. In fact
it does not exceed three-quarters Of a
pound per week per man through the
empire. 1t is interesting that Germany
will stake all on peace in 1918, that
highly placed Germans have stated that
this meat ration can be continued until
the end OF the war.
The crops of Austria Hungary
will be considered in connection with
political conditions there. 1t may be
said, however, that there was short
crop in Austria, and that there Will
be great suffering there this winter,
but that the Hungarian crop was on ex-
tremely good one, The Hungarians are
canny people, however. They will not
give an ounce to their German allies
except against. compensation. That
compensation is rendered in part by pro-
lection. German troops are lighting
on the Hungarian boundaries and are
being fed by Hungary in consequence.
Bulgaria had a good crop and Turkey
bad one.
In the occupied territories Belgium
never produces enough to support her
self. and IS producing far less than nor
NAL now. l have talked with eye
witnesses who passed through Belgium
at harvest time last year and saw
fields of wheat rotting down on the
stalk for lack of labor to cut it. Serbia
had a fair crop, but the major part
must be used in Serbian boundaries
Poland's crop was only fair, and suffer-
ing will be intense there this winter
The Germans are ruthlessly taking not
merely the surplus, out the entire crop
where that is available.
Not much will be available, how
ever, because of the lack of transporta-
ton facilities there. In winter the
wagon roads are mere morasses and the
railroads are few and have gone 20
pieces u'ing the war.
The Germans will be able to move
little out at the cost of the starvation
of hundreds of thousands of Poles in
the cities.
In the country districts the Poles
will probably have enough to eat. but
it will be quite impossible for them to
move enough food to the cities to save
the lives of those doomed TO death, even
if they were inclined to move crops
only to have them Communicated by
the Germans.
The Rumanian crop alone remains to
be considered 1t was widely press
ACCENTED earlier in the year by the Ger
mans. Warehouses were prepared in
Munich and other cities forth a recep-
ton of the Rumanian crop. OF late
nothing has been heard of it, and no
man papers to the reception of any
grain from Rumania, so that the infer
ence is a fair one that little or none
has been received.
1 have talked with men who went from
one end to the other of Rumania as
late as December of 1916. At that
time the country was a desert, stripped
of buildings. men, tools and animals.
AS the preparations for this years crop
should begin not later than March, if a