The Washington herald., 1917-11-28


,se three aged Belgian women arc
hree oldest OF the vast horde of
The youngest is 90 years old, she
from mid-June to mid-August had
been very difficult for the people. es-
pecially in Berlin, Hamburg, Frank
fort. Cologne, Dusseldorf, Stettin,
Dresden and Leipzig.
Meat Ration Reduced.
1t was stated that the food condi-
tions had now improved and that the
bread ration had been increased. But
the meat ration was reduced to half
a pound a week.
On October s the Weser Zeitung an
nounced that latest statistics made
necessary the mixing of bread with
potatoes in order to make bread suf-
fice until next year. Until November
the flour ration would be 20 grams.
From then on it would be 800 grams,
with an addition Of 20 grams Of pota-
toes.
The present grinding percentage be-
tween grain and flour. 81 per cent.
must be maintained.
In other words real flour. such as
We know 1t, is not allowed in Ger
many. Practically the entire grain
Is utilized. It was stated that IL the
wheat crop exceeded expectations. II
would not be used to increase the
flour ration. but to reduce the grind
ing percentage so as to get more bran
for cattle.
On October 8 there was a query In
the reichstag as to the use of barley
for beer. A representative of the gov
ernment stated that next year beer
would be limited to what was neces-
sary. but the chancellor was not pre-
pared to reduce 1t further out of re-
gard to the feeling of the populace.
on October Is a considerable in
crease in prices of wheat and rye flour
was announced, thus incress sing the
price OF bread.
Bread Prices Soar.
1t was also announced that In the
future communities would receive less
bread and must substitute potatoes.
At the same time there appeared in
some Of the papers complaints that
the meat supply was becoming more
precarious in Berlin. Hesse, Bavaria
and Saxony; that the milk and egg
supply was decreasing. that there was
a shortage in fish. and that sugar was
hard to get.
Malnutrition leads to epidemics OF
dysentery. tuberculosis. cholera and
hunger typhus. These are all reported
in the papers.
In Munich last year the births were
only 800 and the deaths 1900. The
year before the war the births were
2,%o and the aths 800.
On September 30 wallmann's Yer
sicherunge Zeitschrift said bluntly:
Look at the people in the street; look
at the hollow cheeks and big collars,
and one cannot possibly Be deceived
Ask any doctor or read the reviews
OF insurance companies and you will
find the effect of malnutrition.
The danger is that the mortality
among the civil population is now
competing with that at the front.
1T will be OF no avail to try to
satisfy oneself by lies and by closing
ones eyes. 1t is a great wrong to
conceal these facts from the popuIa.
ton. tuberculosis, which has been so
successfully combated In recent years,
now raises its head in a threatening
manner as the result of the general
Infant Mortality High.
Vorwaerts comments on the unusual
ly high infant mortality this year,
pointing out that it Is, 7 per cent
higher than last year and is largely
due to the poor quality of the milk.
Another paper reports that in the
Arnsberg district for the week ending
September %. there were 2s2 dysentery
cases, IS resulting in deaths.
1t will be seen from these things
that the food supply is not as ample
as Germany would have the world be-
heve; that there is considerable dearth
along certain lines; and that while
people are not starving. many are
tallng prey to malnutrition illnesses.
Now What About CoaIf
Germany has attempted to make up
for its lack Of native labor by put
ting Russian and French prisoners to
work in the mines.
But this has worked indifferently
well because most of the prisoners
have never mined coal before and the
percentage of those who are incapaci-
tated by illness, bad food, or accident
is large.
The National Zeitung, of Basle.
switzerland. on october II stated that
the German government had issued an
order placing fresh restrictions upon
passenger traffic in opder to faciIi-
tate freight and save coal.
Fast train service was to be re-
duced.
The amount Of luggage allowed pas
sengers was curtailed and trains were
not to be heated much.
For short distance trains no heat
was to, be allowed.
Passenger rates were increased 100
per cent.
Limit Use of Fuel.
From other sources comes the news
that In Frankfort heating with coal,
coke, wood, gas or electricity before
October II was prohibited under a
Of six months Imprisonment
Or fine of 1900 marks.
frlor TO. the war, the great trade
air or Europe was the Leipzig Fair.
% which business men from all over
ne world came to view samples and
order stocks. Germany has made
desperate attempts to keep this fair
going in spite Of the war.
The Schlesische Zeitung, in telling
u the fair this autumn, says the gen.
,ral outstanding characteristic was
ne want of goods. due to the dearth
d material, shortage Of labor and
shortage of auxiliary materials.
The largest stocks were those of
glass and toys. Prices
we're greatly Increased, ranging from
9 per cent more, for wooden goods to