Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-22
HOLLAND KEENLy FEELS /
SITUATION DUE TO WAR
Government Finds Itself Between
Allies Hammer and the
Germanic Anvil"
By RENE FEIBLEMANx.

Especial Cablegram to The Star ana
Chicago Daily News.D
Copyright. 1917 by the Chicago Daily News os.n
AMSTERDAM, Holland, August e.
Holland is beginning to feel acutely
the unpleasantness OF her position be-
tween the allies hammer and the Ger<
manic anvil. As winter approaches the
sufferings of this people are sure to beS
come more intense. The worst Of it all
is that nothing can save the country
from it-not even its entry into the
war. Already the American embargo
on exports is painfully felt in the
Netherlands. Practically not one con<
signment of grain has reached Holland
from the United States in the last three
months.
Bread Allowance Again Reduced. I
NJ. Posthuma, the minister Of agricul.
ture, has ordered a second reduction OF
the bread allowance, Originally the
(about six pounds) per week per capita.
Now the amount is to stretch over
eleven days. and it is intended to make
it do for a fortnight. Meanwhile bread
is made out OF all sorts Of refuse cereal
in order to save the wheat flour. The
color Of the bread changes daily, and
so does its taste, putting Dutch stomachs
to a sad trial.
Under the existing rules Of the war
Dutch eggs. for example. have not
only riven 600 per cent in price. but
owing to the lack Of proper food for
the hens the eggs are not good i'm
quality. Fodder is scarce. Benxfne and
petrol can hardly be had at any pricas
Everything is under government con-
troll in order that the needs OF the
modified army of nearly 100000 men
to the economic trouble. Holland has Co
keep the army in constant readiness
for war.
But the worst proposition naturally in
trat of coal. which, except for small
quantities secured from the LimburE
mines. must come from Germany.
Germany agreed to send Holland $780,
600 tons of coal every month, the
Dutch authorities figuring that with
this amount the Netherlands. by strict
economy. would be able to pull through
the winter. In exchange Holland sent
foodstuffs raised on Dutch soil equal
in value to the German coal
Germany's one-sided Policy.
AS frequently happens when Ger.
many is hampered by treaties she has
insisted on Holland fulfilling the CLAUSE
regarding Dutch food exports. but has
neglected her own part OF the bargain
For weeks and months Germany has
sent only about one-third tho amount
of coal promised. so that now Holland
is in the worst possible straits for fuel
Large cities like The Hague, Amster>
dam. Rotterdam and Utrecht have taken
extraordinary measures to save gas.
No gas is to be had on Sundays and
very little on week days. The streets
are dark. No light is allowed at all,
either gas or electric, after midnight
and those who violate the rule are WIS.,
tied with the seyerest penalties.
H.. =
yet to come. Industrial establishments
must automatically come to a standstill
when winter sets in, for then tho little
coal there is must be used for heating
This will mean from 100000 to 1,000.0 900
workmen out OF employment a sftua-
ton offering vast revolutionary poesf. .
bilities, as IL would be almost tmposs
sible to feed so many idle men.
Thus the outlook for Holland is not
rosy. Probably there is not another
neutral country in Europe that faces
such a tragedy as that impending in
Queen WiIhelmina's kingdom.