The Washington herald., 1918-05-07
GERMAN FOOD
SYSTEM SAPS
VITAL ENERGY
Lack of Fats Reduces Birth
Rate to AppaRiag
Extent.
WAGES ARE HELD BACK
Money Of State Workers
Commandeered Drains
People Further.

Gcrmany's economic system is
br2aking fast under allied pres
sure.
Her great railroad lines are wear
ing down and the nation is unable
to divert steel from munitions and
ordnance work to reconstruct the
roads. The latest attempt to force
Holland to allow German transpor-
tation along the canals was primar-
lily to save the weakening steam
ina - ~
The German people are being de-
vitalized; tuberculosis has develop
ed alarmingly among children and
growing youth, and the BIRTH rate
has dropped off to an appalling de-
gree because the country is not get
ting the normal food.
Ukrainia Inadequate.
These facts were made public yes
terday at the Food Administration
following the reports circulated
yesterday that the Ukraine was not
giving food to the Prussian cause.
Some of the officials stamped the
stories merely as German propa-
sanda and pointed out that the
Ukraine not only has the richest
soil in the world. but now has under
cultivation 50 per cent of her agri-
cultural lands. France. most high
ly cultivated in the world, has 81
per cent titled.
Germany cannot be starved out.
but the race can deteriorate. and is
deteriorating fast from underfeed-
ing" said T. H. Ellis. head of the
foreign food division Of the Food
administration.
The Ukraine Is giving wheat and
other cereals to Germany, according
to Mr.. Ellis. Germany has plenty of
vegetables: but the great agent that
is undermining the vitality of the ma
ton is the lack Of fats which are re-
quired to maintain the reserve store
Of vitality in the body. Women are
not receiving anything like the re-
quired quantity of fats in their ra-
tions. They are falling greatly IN
der weight, with the consequent re-
duction in child birth because of their
lost strength. The food from the
Ukraine, the food official maintained,
therefore, was not giving Germany
any great sustenance.
Ahled Crops ProIiac.
~ against this France and Great
Britain are raising the largest crops
m their history. England now has
2.soo0oo acres ploughed. Cereals,
mostly wheat. are planted throughout
the nation in public squares, parks
and conservatory grounds. Even Hyde
Park Is q farm today. France, even
with the guns tearing things to pieces,
has cultivated with her women 81 per
cent Of the agricultural lands.
One big factor IN the drain on the
German people Is the system of COM
Wandering money. The women and
men who are working are allowed by
the government a weekly stipend of
A.o for living expenses. The rest of
the wages Is put in bank by the gov
ernment and credits given. A man
or woman supposed to be receiving
so week. gets only the sl.2O and the
government takes the rest. When the
loans are made the government simply
takes the money from the banks.
There Is no appeal.
Any vehement protest or organized
effort at complaint is Immediately
stified. The government always is in
the position of keeping the people be-
hind 1t by declaring that unless the
war is won. the bonds cannot be paid.
Would Extend Methods,
Germany is now endeavoring to an
ply these methods to Ukrainia, accord
ing to dispatches received here yes
terday. quoting German papers on the
activities of the German army in the
East. According to the Norddeutsche
Algemeine Zeitung. Austrian and Ger
man forces have oveFrun all of the
Ukraine and Crimea. They control all
the railway lines and occupy the
principal cities.
Classifying the work Of these armies.
the Allegemeine Zeitung tells of their
long marches and the battles they
have had with Bolsheviki bands.
1t should be stated" saws the
paper. that we have succeeded by
these means in Strengthening the gov
ernment and making It possible for II
to collect gradually quantities of pro-
visions which exist beyond a doubt in
..s .ns so scantry, but which The psssants