The sun., 1917-02-13
GERMANY BESET
BY STARVATION
Conditions Have Changed
Greatly for the Worse in
Last 5 Months.
MANY STAPLES MISSING
Potato Allowance Inadequate,
Cheese Is Gone and Meats
PrOhibitive.
MANY STAPLES MISSING


the worse In the last five months. The
correspondent of the Associated Press,
who had been away from Germany since
the first week In August, has just re-
turned from a stay OF three weeks in
Berlin.
He found that many staples of food
had altogether disappeared from the
markets. others had grown SO dear that
they are beyond the reach OF any but
the well to do, the daily allowance of
potatoes had been reduced to ten ounces,
and that either a shortage OF flour or
a disordered distribution OF t among
the bakers had resulted in long lines
Of buyers standing for hours in front of
the bakeries.
Maximum prices Of the foodstuffs con-
trolled by the Government are still very
low for potatoes and bread. and COM
paratively low for meats. Potatoes
cost only - cents the standard bushel
of co pounds and bread little less than
So cents n pound. But the potato al
lowance is insufficient for people who
have little but bread and potatoes to
No Cheese ON the Market.
II had been hoped to allow one egg
per person each two weeks In Greater
Berlin. hut the last one egg allowance
WAS made some Ave weeks ago and an
other is not promised until February.
When the correspondent left Berlin in
August II was still possible TO buy
cheese. Since the end Of August there
has been no cheese on the market. 1t
is said that considerable quantities are
being imported from Holland, but 1t
goes apparently to the front. except Tor
small quantities allowed the restaurants
and hotels.
Another serious reduction Of available
foodstuffs has been the appropriation FOR
control by the Government of all canned
vegetables Four or five weeks ago the
dealers were permitted TO sell frac-
tional part of their stock. but only two
cans on each bread card. Permission
to sell further part is expected to be
granted again soon. but the dealers are
to be compelled to open each can be-
fore selling II, so as to force the buyers
to consume 1t at once and not hoard It,
The weekly allowance Of meat or all
kinds In the Greater Berlin municipali-
ties runs from five and quarter to
cheapest varieties cost about 60 cents
pound. the dearest 12 cents.
One of the most serious deprirations
continues to be the lack of fats and oils.
The weekly allowance Of butter and oleo.
margarine together is n little less than
three ounces per head. Oil is 80 ex-
pensive that II is out OF the reach of the
great majority. The correspondent paid
33.13 for about two-th!rds of pint OF
hazelnut oil to be used for frying
Goose fat costs $3.50 per can OF seven
teen and three-flfth ounces. and is the
only fat. except vegetable oils, that car
be bought without card.
Hungry Feeling All the Time.
This insufficiency of fats in the dali!
ration shows itself in an almost con
| tinuous feeling Of hunger. Ths CORE.
| spondent, experiencing this himself ir
| the frst days of his visit. remarked
| on It.
II feel hungry all the time" said tn,
! person addressed.
| Extending his Investigations. the cor
| respondent heard similar expression!
from all sides. The bittarest complaints
come from soldiers at home. When tn,
| writer last visited the front in July tn,
| mems rations were ample In every re
spect. and there is no reason to belie",
| the same Is not true to-day. The soldis
| at home thus notices the difference mor'
| keenly than do those who have hat
gradually to accustom themselves to on,
/ deprivation after another.
| There is deadly menotony about tn,
meals In the average household. Break
fast generally consists of rolls. mar ma
lade (often made Of pumpkins). and 4
! decoctton OF roasted acorns. rye. chicor,
! and what not that goes by the name o
coffee. There Is no real coffee left
Some tea at high prices is still to he had
but the poorer people drink a brew o
| linden blossoms, raspberry leaves OF
leaves of other shrubs or trees. For I'll,
second breakfast" there Is dry bread.
The Dinner Menu.
= Dinner generally consists of boiled
potatoes with salt, some kind Of boilet
vegetable, and, on perhaps two days o
the week. n tiny piece of meat FISH
takes the place of meat on other days
unless one can buy goose at s1.56 8
pound (they cost So pound Just be
fore Christmas), duck. at s1.4
pound. o turkey at $l.32 a pound, or {
hen at S1.0S to s1.2O a pound. Com
I parat,vely little game comes on tn,
markets. apparently going to the hotel!
and restaurants.
Supper is tho problem In the averas.
household. Generally there are no DO
tatoes left over from noon. and II ther,
are there Is no fat In which to fry them
The usual German supper before tn,
war consisted Of cold meats, sausage
cheese, bread and butter and beer. Their,
IL no meat. no cheese and no sausage
no butter on four or five days OF tn,
week, no more bottled beer and man,