Evening star., 1917-01-07
Entente Powers Also Have
Suffered and Will Con-
tinue to Do So.
TEUTONS ARE PRESSING
RUMANIAN ADVANCE
Russians Face Real Menace-Great
Activity Expected on the
Western Front.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
Farreaching as may be the military
plans of either group of belligerent ma
tions in Europe. determined as they are
to continue the struggle until a decision
has been reached which will forever set
tie the issues Of the present struggle. be
they of tangible or intangible character:
confident as the combatant powers may
be of final. pronounced and clearcut
victory. the fact has been made pro-
nouncedly plain in recent weeks that the
food question has become a serious one
In every quarter and may itself decide
the victor.
Some Of the belligerent nations, sorely
drained by wars demands. are suffering
more than others. Some are doing rea-
sonably well. Prices in some countries.
though controlled by the government. soar
far beyond the reach Of the under classes
The task of maintaining sufficient sup
plies or bodily fuel to sustain the great
armies in the field alone is sufficient to
stagger the imagination of the average
citizen in these warning countries, but
<he difficulties which the various govern
ments have caring for the civilian popu-
iation. which is fighting big portion of
the struggle at home, are almost as great,
almost AS exacting and fully as important
to the possible victor in this war.
Although England can truthfully be said
to be suffering many Inconvenience from
an economic viewpoint; though France
mas been forced to exert her greatest in.
genuity to meet food demands: though
Russian control Of the food situation ap-
parently now is established on pretty sat
he 1f
ing though Italy has suffered keenly pos
sibiy as much. with the exception Of Rel.
sium. as any other Of the allies. the fact
appears more and more plain that ths
worst sufferers from the evil food condi~
uons are the central powers, Germany.
Austria and Hungary. -. :
Hardly day has passed in the last
year but that some dispatch from neu-
trail source has
Grave Clashes been received in
ALSO Reported. pictins the .eri.
BUSINESS Of the food situation. More
frequently. in recent weeks, have come
advices telling of grave clashes, be-
tween the German housefrau and the
military and civil authorities, who are
Hamburg disturbances are said to have
assumed the proportions of a crisis.
more than a hundred persons being in
3ured in the rioting which followed
the first outbreak. In the smaller
'cities Of Germany the shortage of food
possibly is being felt more than in the
larger and more central distributing
points The workingman of the ma
tion who Is united to go to the
front Is forced to subsist on diet of
cheapest srueis and little fat. Prices
OF butter. milk. bread. -four, potatoes
and other foods essential to keeping
the human machine running to the
fullest possible advantage are pro-
n,nis,se ,asa,,y m ewing to soaring prices. Prac-
tral powers today are getting along on
milk Allowances Of possibly 40 per
cent less than was used previous 10
the outbreak OF the war. The percent
age Is said to 50 even high In some
sections. The strictest economies are
being practiced even in the distribu-
ton Of the foods of the less nourish-
ing. class
In Austria the food conditions. even
though relieved to some extent BY the
successful captures of large grain
otores in Rumania, also are said to be
OF grave character, The proportion Of
less than. In Germany. The coarser
foods are even harder to obtain. The
mayor Of Vienna Is declared to have
threatened to resign because of the
fact that Hungary refuses to share her
own meager stores with her ally. The
5ails. prisons and other correctional in
stitutions Of Vienna are declared to
be niled with women. children and men
who In their desperate dilemma have
been forced to steal small food supplies.
And. according to neutral advices, con-
,dttions in Vienna are but indicative In a
small measure OF the suffering which
prevails over the whole of Hungary
One dispatch In recent weeks stated
specifically that the thousands OF pris-
, onefs Germany and Austria and Hun
gary have taken during the months
which have elapsed since the war
started are proving real burden to
supplies which must be furnished
them.
As the winter is only about half over,
u Is rehsbly declared that the suffer-
man stocks of foodstuffs are not suf-
hcient to last and at the same time
furnish adequate food for all until the
new haryests Of the present year. The
serious one. advices indicate. Notwith-
standing the fact that the grains in
storage under government control are
In official circles declared to be sum-
cient. the question arises as to just
what constitutes a sufficiency in the
oficiai mind. The potato crop of the
past year was declared short, the grain
harvest also. and Gernany's troubles.
II may be said. are further Increased
daily by the British blockade. which de-
spite claims to the contrary, undoubt-
edly has seriously interferred with
German economic life. The bitterness
In Germany against England. which
probably fs more pronounced than that
against either one of the other allies.
is largely due to the fact that II In the
British Meet which Is forcing the Ger
man stomach to go partially empty and
forbids the entire appeasing Of the
hunger which. IL dispatches are to he
believed. Is grasping the entire nation.
England has not entirely escaped. Brit
ish food prices are declared to have risen
fully 100 per
England Has Not cent in tho past
Entirely Escaped. With With ]%' =" ao.n',,. nan
way of determining just where the gem
will ufon Thar