The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-21
PEACE RIOTS IN
FOES EMPIRES
Food Demonstrations Also o.
cur in Prussian SaxOny
and Austria.
CROPS BELOW ESTIMATES
Typhoid and Dysentery Claim
ing ThOusands-One Meal
a Day Cut OFF.
CROPS BELOW ESTIMATES
special cable Despafch to THp Sun.

Copyright. 1917. all rigAfs reserred.
PARIS, Dec. 20.--Conditions In the
Central Empires are described BY trust
worthy correspondents Of the Journal
des Debats and the Temps, the former
dealing with the Prussian province Of
Saxony and the latter commenting on
the desire Of the people Of Austria, who
are suffering great privations, for peace.
and pointing out the increased friction
between Austria and Hungary.
In Prussian Saxony, says the cor
respondent Of the Journal des Dsbots,
the crops have been a great disappoint-
ment. potatoes. wheat. rye. barley and
fodder all being far below the average
estimated yield. The people are dis
heartened by the increasing privations
and the prolongation Of the war and
they want peace at any price. Their
one wish Is that their sufferings shall
be relieved
Dysentery and typhoid have claimed
thousands Of victims. although the streets
have been disinfected daily since July.
During the summer the people had barely
enough food to sustain life; the cold
weather has intensified their sufferings,
as there IL a great lack OF clothing and
shoes.
Food Rioting Frequent.
The war party. which still retains
power. Is trying to encourage the people
by promises Of victory through the dis
integration Of the Allies before America
is ready to participate in the fighting.
and 1t points to Russia a. an example.
Food riots and peace demonstrations
occur frequently. but are quickly sup
| pressed by the troops. although the SOL
diers themselves are discouraged. a.
they cannot understand why the Ger
man Government has not forced the
Allies to end the war. -,.
/ The Tcs,ps correspondent quotsa from
the Arbsttsr zsttu~t Of December ~ ~
follows: "fn all the provinces of AUS
tria daily demonstrations occur demand
! ing peace. Among the masses there Is
but one sentiment AnimatinG the people.
a longing for peace The correspond
ent points out that the Arbesfer ZeitWw1.
being a Socialist organ, might Be sus-
pected Of exasgeratine conditions for
political purposes. but he quotes the
Vienna Ntueu Frete Presse Of the same
date, which. he says certainly has not
the same reasons for presenting the
situation in sombre colors. As follows:
Never since the beginning OF the war
has the economic situation been 90
critical. There Is no milk. sugar. grain
or wheat. Adults have one meal less
each day: the children are enemic."
Reserve stocks Exhausted.
The correspondent says there are nc
reserve stocks Of provisions In the
cities, the shortage in the harvests hav'
Ing prevented the replacing Of what had
been consumed The German estimate
Of the yield Of the Rumanian harvesti
was much exaggerated. Recently wher
Deputy asked the head Of the food
commission II the victualling Of Vienna
was assured beyond Christmas the an
swer ne got was II hope so.'
There Is still grain sufficient for Z
small ration Of bread In Vienna. but po
tatoes arrive frozen and uneatable
Transportation facilities are insufficient
even were supplies available in the coun
try. There are foodstuffs In Hungary
but when the Government at Budapes
was requested to expedite shipments o.
food to relieve the sunerings Of the pop
ulation OF Austria they replied with
promises which were not kept.
Resentment among the people OF Aus
tria is openly expressed. They ask wha
good is the union with Hungary II 1
will not come to their assistance. Th'
| conflict between the political interests o
Austria and Hungary are more appaS
ent each day. mo one In Austria desire
annexations." says the Niueu FYet
presse. 1--WE want the advantages o
commercial treaties with Serbia an'
Rumania."
Budapest newspapers. on the contrary
insist that Hungary would pront by an
nexations. The correspondent empha
sizes this difference between the wa
aims OF Austria and Hungary. He as
serts II Is so divergent that the conclu
sion Of an early peace to relieve the mis-
cries of the people Is the only solutio
Of the crisis, which threatens the sta
bility Of the dual monarchy.