The Detroit times., 1917-02-16
GERMANY IS
ON VERGE Of
STARVATION
People Already Badly
Under-NOurished,
Says Writer
REGULATIONS
ARE EVADED
Conditions CROWN g
Steadily Worse, Is
Assertion
ny CARL ". ACKERHAN.
(Sfor Correspondent United Press.
With A bdSSddor Gerdrd)

With Ambassador Gerord)
PARIS. Feb. I6.--Germany is un.
dernourished Food and economic
conditions thruout the country are
growing worse. There Is endless
graft in the food distribution plan.
The empires transportation prob
lens are increasing.
But Field Marshal Won Hinden.
burg's plans 20 forward Just the
same. The Hlndenburg idea is cold
ly calculated on the German army
alone. Under his plans the whole
nation Is concentrating TO strength
en- the army. A million women.
commanded by women ofrcers, are
projected 10 form a vast industrial
force working for the fstherlsnd and
replacing men needed for the army.
Americans who left Berlin with
Ambassador Gerard were deluged
with thousands OF requests for food
from their supplies One offer was
10 marks (about s25o) for . pound
OF fats from the embassy store.
One German physician asked an
American family 10 give him his pay
for medical services In food-not In
money.
II 10 jokingiy remarked In Berlin
that there ought 10 be two new
kinds OF asylums-meaning for those
persons crazy enough not 10 cheat
In the food distribution system and
for those who are insane enough In
their cheating 20 cheat too much.
The police are powerless to stop
most OF this graft because II Is the
influential Germans who are the
greatest offenders But the graft
does not stop with the influential
citizens Food dealers interchange
their wares Friends OF magistrates
get extra cards, Food cards are
stolen.
The recent cold spell IN Germany
the most ireeringly bitter weather
Germany has experienced In decades
destroyed large supplies. Qusnti.
ties OF much priEed potatoes and
apples were frozen.
Transportation troubles likewise
are multiplying the difficulties in dis
trioution OF supplies. Many schools.
large ofices and apartments in Ber.
lin are closed on account OF lack OF
coal thru this transportation tie-up.
and the frtgidity OF ofices Is paralyI-
ing business
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg
does not count the food and trans
portauon dlficulties OF the people.
He believes In n military victory
And be is hoping 10 achieve that
victory this year--before Il is neces.
sary again 10 face the Socialists and
other peace advocates.
In previous dispatches details OF
how the Socialists forced the kaiser
10 make his peace proffer have been
related. The rejection OF the peace
terms quieted this movement. But
Germany's leaders know the demand
may come again.
Therefore Germany's efforts In
1917 may be expected TO exceed any
heretofore made-because they will
be the nations final attempt
Tho whole empire is at work for
this years struggle.
Mobilization OF the women work.
ers IL but one step. The feminine
army OF million will step into the
places OF civilian male workers. The
vomen's activities Will take them
right up TO the nring line Every
man able 20 bear arms must aid In
striking at the enemy when the
crisis arrives.
The plan was arranged by the war
service bureau. The women who
volunteered FIRST will be given pref.
creniial consideration In the appoint.
ment OF officers. Certain women di-
rsctors will be sent TO headquarters
on the various fronts 10 direct their
auxiliary forces In cooperation with
the military commanders.
Already the civilian mobilization
has reached into the public schools
Students OF the high schools in
Grunewald. Berlin suburb. are
drilling TO take the places OF nre-
men and street cleaners. while farm.
ers of the agricultural suburbs have
pledged their sons and daughters
for work during the planting and
harvesting seasons.
In Berlin unnecessary labor r. be-
inE dispensed with under the civil
ian service scheme Engineers en-.
ployed in theaters have been order
ed % work In the postofice and