Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-25
England Takes Steps Against
Defeat Through Subma-
rine Warfare.
GREECE NOW HARD HIT
BY ENTENTE BLOCKADE
What Armies Are Doing on the Vari-
Gus Battle Fronts-Big
Offensive Nearer.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
AS the days slip by and current events
tend to crystalline the belief that the
war is entering upon its crucial phase,
the idea that victory or defeat for
either group of belligerents may be
brought about not through valorous
deeds on the battlefelds but more
largely through the more plebeian cause
-hunger-grows apace.
Not since the war started have the
contesting nations of Europe dwelt SO
largely upon the outstanding of their
economic resources as at present.
Never have they been SO active in offer
ing encouragement to the rural popu-
lations. Never have they gone to such
lengths to preserve such reserve stores
as were furnished in the harvests OF
last year. Never have they adopted
supplies of varying character from out
side their domains. Never has as great
attention been paid to the problems OF
distribution. Not q day passes OUT
that one or other of the belligerent ma
tons inaugurates some restriction on
the quantity of food that may be con-
sumed per capita or that some COM
modify price is not fixed.
"Vultures Of war" those men COM
posing little groups who attempt to
eity of their fellows that their feet
may tread paths of gold. today are be-
ing bounded in every warning country
Peoples everywhere are being urged to
limit to the extreme their own con-
sumption that there shall be plenty
for the hundreds of thousands OF men
out on the battle lines.
German officialdom declares that the
war will be decided in the fields of
E n 6 and.
Germany and England. intimatine
Both Highly Confident. suhmarine
warfare will be so successful that the
agricultural classes of Great Britain
will not be able OF furnish sufficient
quantities to prevent the British Isles
from starving. England counters with
the claim that the British blockade has
been so effective that already Germany
Is on her last legs, and that the Ger
man policy of terrorism on the seas
SO far has been a failure. Nevertheless.
these two countries, as IS the case OF
their allies, are taking no needless
chances of future hunger. they realiz-
ing full well that the first to be thor
oughly and completely demora!lzed
from an economic standpoint will be
the first to lift the flag of surrender
in the present great struggle
The situation in Germany undoubted-
1y is of greater menace to the Teu-
tonic cause than do conditions prevail
ing in countries of the entente menace
the allies. German officials admit that
the potato supply has been curtailed
to an absolute minimum; in fact. to
such an extent that the resources OF
regarded as questionable whether there
are aavilable sufficient quantities of
potatoes and cereals to do until the
coming harvests. AS one German Off
cial stated, Belts must be drawn still
tighter" Butter, milk and eggs sell
at exhorbitant figures in the larger
cities. if they are to be had at all The
question of fats, which Field Marshal
Won Hindenburg pointed out some weeks
ago as important, still remains the
predominant one throughout Germany.
Meat rations are almost infinitesimal
Everywhere the production of milk
has been reduced owing to the fact
that food supplies heretofore going to
livestock have been consumed largely
by the people of the nation. There has
been a consequent falling on In the
amount of milk and butter throughout
the empire. Poultry still is to be OBJ
apparently do not prevail all over Ger
many, however, If the word of persons
leaving Germany may be taken as au-
thentic, for the farmers have been lit
tie disturbed, retaining vast quantities
of food supplies for themselves, while
holding further large stores for the
highest available prices. To force these
withheld stores into the hands of the
government that there may be an
equitable distribution. city as well as
country. has been one of the big prob
lens of Germany, and officials intrusted
with the task of equal distribution to
all classes and walks have admitted
their failure. The significant fact is
revealed that soon the whole. question
of food distribution will be taken from
the hands of civil authorities and placed
in the hands of the military. That more
far-reaching results will be obtained
IL the belief said to exist in Berlin.
Scarcity of transportation facilities is
declared TO be keenly felt in Germany
many It
A. ha nrecenf