Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-13
Members Of Gerard's Party
Tell of Food Shortage
in Empire.
POOR SUFFERING,
RICH BEING FED
People With Money Able to Obtain Ne
csssities at High Priess-chiIdrsn Of
Poor Lack Proper Nourishmsnt-
General Health of Public Not Vet
Affeetsd-Gsrmany's Feeding Prob
lem Growing More Difficult.

Berne, Feb. 13.-Americans who ar
rived here from Germany with Ambas-
sador Gerard are congratulating them
selves on having. escaped furthe,
wrestling with Germany's food prob
lem.
Butchers windows, well stocked with
assorted meats such as seen here, are
an unwonted sight in Berlin. Meat is
now so scarce in the German capital
that 1t is never hung in windows ia
attract buyers but is speedily distrtb-
uted without advertising. Customers
keep in close touch with the butcher
! so as to know when the next meager
supply will be on hand.
Meat is sold on card, emitting the
holder to half pound weekly. but
aish.ssss Iiale OF kidneys and other
iscraps can be bought in restaurants
without card.
High Prices Paid.
The maximum price for pork and
mutton ranges from so to 70 cents, bu:
q dollar more is paid at back doors for,
despite Germany's genius for organiza-
= tion much surreptitious dealing pre-
walls. Even German dealers give hum
cry children the advantage Of loose
interpretation OF regulations and do not
ask awkward questions.
The rich, ok course, suffer compare
Etirely little. They are still able to buy
high priced poultry and fish. Chickens
and turkeys bear labels announcing
/ they can be purchased from $1.30 to
$3.50 pound. Cases have been re-
ported where fat goose brought more
than $30. " 4. Il :.
Pssr Psepis HuHaey. II
The poorer people are undoubtedly
suffering from hunger, as their food
As confined mainly to bread, potatoes.
turnips and low grade marmalades. It
Is generally asserted that In the c0un-
try districts the food problem is less
pressing than IN the big cities. the pro-
ducers retaining supplies for home
consumption.
IN spite however, Of the fact that
the food supply is poor, there are few
81 ms Of undertaking. A common ques-
ton asked when friends meet is, How
many pounds have you lost?"
Physicians are writing in medical
Journals that children now are evi-
IDENTIFY undernourished, particularly
lacking fats, yet the merry shedding
throng in the parks during the last
month never suggested lack Of food.
General Health Better.
The, general verdict is that the health
Of the people is better than before the
war, when overeating had assumed the
character Of a national besetting sin.
The people are mostly disposed to Jest
over the matter where the pinch is not
too keen.
Showgoers laugh in the theaters at
topical songs turning on the shortage
OF food Men in authority, however.
recognize that Germany is confronted
with problem Of growing difficulty.
The next four months are regarded
as specially critical because the sup
ply OF vegetables, except potatoes and
turnipy, is virtually exhausted. Even
sauer kraut can be had only at inter-
walls. Last week placards were posted
announcing that half pound Of sauer
kraut was assignable on the food
cards.
The difficulties Of the situation,
however, has not altered the confidence
OF the authorities that the existing
supplies will suffice until the next
crop.