Mexico Missouri message., 1918-07-04
Germany's Nor Allies Food Short
age Is Considered.
ZONES OF WAR PREPARATION
First Step Is Actual Military MobllIza-
tioni Second, Establishing War
Industries; Third, Increase
In Human Energy.
By JAMES H. COLLINS.

told of an experience in German city
of 1900 population. This city had
left for treatment of civilians, one
physician and one surgeon, all other
medical men having been drawn into
the army.
How do you manage to attend all
the slck?" asked the traveller Of the
physician.
Il simplify by paying no attention
to people over fifty-five years of age"
was the doctors answer.
Which is to say, that Germans past
Chis age, being of no military use to
the state, and Of probably the least
economic use, are automatically set
aside, and in sickness take their own
chances Of recovery or death.
This story was told to DIR. Alonzo
Taylor of the United States food adj
ministration and department of agri-
culture. Doctor Taylor was attached
to the United States embassy ut Ber-
lin during most of 1916, and under
Ambassador Gerard had neutral In
spectlOns Of German prison camps in
charge. Herbert Hoover has said that
Doctor Taylor's scientific knowledge
OF dietetlcs, and his practical grasp of
war food problems, is wider than that
Of any other person he knows, and be-
hind this technical knowledge is q
thorough acquaintance with the Ger
man state and the German people, as
well as the food problem Of the central
powers and the allied nations. Last
autumn Doctor Taylor was a member
of the American commission sent
abroad to further our cooperation in
the war, and deal particularly with
the problem Of food.
The point Of the story above Is the
different interpretations that may be
put upon it. Regarded simply as an
other interesting insight into the de-
privatiOn which is now believed to
prevail in Germany, it would be taken
by the average American newspaper
render as one more indication that
Germany is desperately pressed for
every necessity of life and that this
internal situation must soon cause
dCA " CIdChs
But Doctor Taylor looks at it in an
entirely different way.
Fifty-FiVe the Dead Line.
"That story simply indicates how
Tar the Germans are willing to go to
win" he says. eff it is necessary to
abandon all that part of the German
population above fifty-fve years OF
age, they intend to do it. They are
willing to take other measures as
cOldly practical as that to pull through
SO far as hunger, suffering, death, and
toll are concerned, these cannot safe
1y be regarded as factors In Germany's
defeat. She has pulled through be
fore, and will pull through again. The
only way to defeat Germany, in my
opinion, is by straight military de
cision on the western front"
Since the second year Of the war
accounts of German food shortage havt
been staple reading in the American
and English newspapers. These hay,
been based upon German rationinj
regulations, articles in the German
press dealing with food shortage, in
formation brought out of Germany b,
travellers, and other data. The sub
ject is one that has been CAREFUL
studied by trustworthy Investigator
in great detail. Much of the lnforma
tion obtained has undoubtedly bee
sound, yet Doctor Taylor regards mos
published accounts of German hunge
a mi ola .
enemy propaganda. Largely throug
his Investigations the United State
food administration has adopted tn
policy of discountenancing reports c
German hunger.
'"The Germans are unquestIonabl
on very short rations," he adds, ''bu
I know the German mind, the Germa
state, the German press. The Obed
ence of the German mind to the Gel
man state and the latter's control {
the German press are SO complete tht
even admitting German food shortag
TO be as grave as reports indicate, a
published information on this subje,
coming out of Germany is still artfull
colOred for military ends. That mus
never be lost sight of. Germany wi
unquestionably have a hard pinch
food this summer. but she is going I
Full through again so far as food
concerned, and all plans based upo
that as a factor In the military situl
fion rest on an unsound basis. I'll
Germans are suffering. No matter-i
the whining of this war we cannt
Sfnord 10 give any thought whateyG
To their suffering from hunger-the
submarines give none to the suffe
tngs Of our allies.
Must Win by Fighting.
When we ourselves entered the wa
a year ago. German food shortage wa
accepted as one Of the apparent fa'
fors which would help us win. Twcly
months experience has brought a
awakening to the American peopl
we now know that allied countriC
are hard pressed for food. We hay
~ OwD country the reflex OF IL