Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1917-11-29
Socialist Organ Sounds Grave
Alarm Regarding Sen. -
Conditions.
BLOCKADE HURTS HEALTH
Marriages and Births Grow Fewer.
While Deaths increase in Num-
ber-Food Shortage influences
Infant Mortality.

Ha'iohi hot ohiy VII tiie htiu Vi Ddltle,
but at home, is told in AN Illuminating
article in the Chemnitzcr VUlkskinne,
Il prominent German socialist organ, g
copy Of which has just reached here.
The paper, citing facts and figures.
sounds u grave alarm and warns the
government that certain concessions
to the poor, premiums on babies or in
surance schemes" will not suffice II
the nation is to survive.
The article follows:
Since 1915 the number Of deaths In
Germany has exceeded that of birth
The decrease In the birth rate since
1913 is considerable.
In 1914 this decrease was 1850; In
1915 1t reached Tin comparison with
1879 the 5000 mark, or % per cent ;
in 1916 1t was 725,5O0, or 40 per cent.
This decrease in the birth rate has
consequences even more far reaching
than the loss Of life on the numerous
battlefelds. The effect is partially
counter-balanced by the, fact that the
mortality of infants has considerably
decreased. The year 1914 marked a
rise In the death rate of infants.
amounting TO 10000; but In 1915 there
was a decrease Of 61,O0O, and In 1918
one of 10000, or 40 per cent.
Marriages Are Decreasing.
These last figures throw clear but
sad light upon the social consequences
Of the war. The fall In the birth rate
is self-explanatory Many who In nor
nal times would have been happy to-
have children are restricted by the
circumstances of wartime from enlarg-
ing their families. Besides the war has
considerably reduced the number of
marriages, and 1t is well-knOwn fact
that young people contribute to re-
population more than others.
During the first month Of the war
marriages were very numerous; there
is tendency to believe that since that
time marriages have not ceased to b.
more numerous thanin peace times. In
August of 1914 there were In the cities
Of Prussia three times as many mar
rlages as In the month Of July of the
same year: but there this increase
stopped. As the war dragged on, with
its long campaigns, marriages became
fewer and fewer.
In the whole empire the initial album
dance of marriages was followed by a
sharp dimlnution, which continues to
this day. We have not yet at hand the
figures for the whole of the empire, but
we know that in Saxony there were
26,300 marriages In 1915, as against
10000 in 1913.
In Hamburg the corresponding de-
crease amounted to 1900; in Berlin to
5000, and In Bremen TO 1000.
Birth Rate Cut Seriously.
Since II may be assumed that the av-
erage young couple has one child ut
the end Of the first year it is seen that
this diminution of marriages leaves q
serious cut in the birth rate.
The food shortage naturally lnhu-
enccs infant mortality. Looking sim
| ply NJ the figures, one is tempted 10 re
jolce over the decrease in this NOR
tally, but when one considers II ir
connection with the situation on the
whole II presents a gloomy picture.
The decrease In the birth rate is
based upon pcace-tlmc figures. II in
cludes children Vino should have been
horn, but who, had they come to life
during the war. would have been most
exposed TO premature death. But there
is a much smaller number Of Height
mate children, and It is especially the
poor people who are abstaining from
enlHrging their families.
The infant mortality, therefore.
should have fallen on III much great
or proportion than the birth rate. Now.
this Is not the case; the fill In tho
birth rate exceeds even by per cent
the death rate OF children Of tender
age.
These figures show us that the war
makes Itself felt not only on the Cox
of battle, hut that 1t reac...,cs MT, To
strike at the root Of the m,,en--,hc
birth rate.
The blockade which, England and
her allies have established against us
with touching sollci,udc for hu,nnnj.
~ has greatly reduced the standard of
our national health. The num- of
births shows TINT the growth q the
population Is being retarded nj Its
roots much more gravely than We nj.
lowed c.rselves to believe a, the ont.
set
The situation is very serious. Even
IN the event that the war should cnl
tavorabiy for us In military and no
litical respects II will have sapped the,
strength of our population unless we
master the TASKS Tint ,,In .n,t.,. -.