Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-07
FOOD PROBLEM IN EMPIRE
CAUSES GRAVE CONCERN TO
MILITARY LEADERS.
ADDITIONAL RATloNlNG
NECESSARY ~ SPRING
Revelations During Month Of Novsm.
Der Cast Gloom over Peopls-supply
Of Fish Not Available to Take Place
Of Other Mssts-Potato Crop Dis
appointing and Shortage Of vess-
tablss.,

Amsterdam, Dec. 19.-[C Correspond
ence of the Associated Press.l-The
month Of November marked probably
the blacklist period in the history Of
the German food supply, not indeed
in the actual supply, but in the outlook
for the winter and spring. The public
had already become aware that the
bread -stuffs harvest was poor and the
fodder harvest bad, but further revela-
ticns came rapidly during the month
which must have an all but catastro-
phic effect on thinking people in Ger
many. The supply of vegetables, 1t be-
came known, is very inadequate every
where, there is hardly any prospect OF
help from the fish trade, and an alarm
ing drop is shown in the prospects OF
the already scanty supplies Of milk,
butter and fat.
Finally, on top of all this, it became
clear during November that the potato
harvest Is disappointing in the extreme.
The quantity shown in the official re-
turns is indeed so disappo pointing that
the authorities refuse to accept the
revised estimates. declare the farmers
liars, and propose to call in the military
to requisition stocks. Moreover, the
quality in different parts Of the en-
pire is reported as extremely poor, so
that an unusual percentage of loss can
be counted on with certainty.
1t is now regarded as certain that
both the meat and bread rations will
have to be reduced in the early spring,
despite a desperate effort to gather UP
all the remaining foodstuffs in the oc-
cupied territories. This latter move
ment is likely to be extended to ex-
IRENE limits during the winter, withthe
result that the inhabitants of all oc-
cupied territories face the prospect OF
absolute starvation for Germany's ben
eft.
In an effort to stretch further the
supplies Of breadstuffs, orders have
been given for a wider use OF potato
flour, but this movement Is found dit-
fcult owing to scarcity Of potato flour.
To obtain more at this time Is not
easy, for 1t Is necessary to dry and
mill the potatoes, which takes time,
and Just now moro than-the usual time
owing to shortage Of labor, coal and
other renuis = s. Hence, until February
bread must be stretched with fresh
p6tatoes. a measure of doubtful exped-
iency.
The failure Of the fodder harvest CO.
incides with generally unsatisfactory
hay crop. This is leading to increased
slaughter Of pigs, a falling off In the
weight of cattle slaughtered. and a
steady diminuation In milk and milk
products.
The place Of meat can not be taken
to any extent by fish, for the supply OF
fish is very poor, and the authorities
hold out no hope Of any Improvement.
The obvious emergency food is vege-
tables, but there has been a failure OF
the market garden crop in many dis
tricts, and the wholesale evasions OF
regulations as to Illicit sales have APP
rarently left the markets almost bare.
AS late as October, there were good
hopes Of satisfactory potato crop, and
many people described the coming har-
vest as almost bumper" Early in
November the estimates grew more So
Der, and during the latter part Of the
month the truth came out. The har-
vest is almost q total failure or
course, the authorities declare that the
revised estimates can not be correct,
the harvest must and shall be at least
a medium one; the farmers are lying,
the military will be called upon to UNI
cover the boarded stocks. the farming
districts will be compelled to deliver
the quotas which they were assessed
in expectation Of a normal harvest.
The German newspapers have aban-
doned the pretense that things will be
easier this winter than last" but they
still cling to the hope that prospects
may be changed by some miracle in
Russia or Italy. The Berlin correspon-
dent Of the Cologne Volkszeitung, dis
cussing the prospects Of the fourth
winter says:
1T will be the hardest vet. Every
household will feel its hardships more.
because all the small stocks in store
rooms and cellars have been used up.
The harvest has not turned out we'll.
Nevertheless, the nation can hold out
IL three conditions are fulfilled. Every
possible surplus should be brought in
from Roumalria, Belgium and France.
All grain must be seized for the COM
mon store. Potatoes must be used for
stretching the bread stuffs."
Tie Increase Of Illicit trading is the
subject Of a fiery editorial in the
Brunswick volfsfreund, which says:
"As soon as an order Is issued, three
fourthsl Of the population seek how
they may eyade 1t. They have lost
faith in official promises. and the fear
OF starvation has them IN its grip For
ham, eggs, l.utter and honey, senseless
prices are being paid, and the rich
einra cen ret them. Barter is also
play ing large part IN procuring pro-
visions. 1t is well known that all pos
COUGHS WASTE ENERGY