New-York tribune., 1918-03-31

appears that no great hopes. for the
immediate future had been based by
the German authorities upon getting
food supplies from the Ukraine, al
though the peace commissioners at
Brest-Litovsk had repeatedly assured
the Germans that there were still con-
siderable stocks of grain in the coun-
try available for export.
In the Rechstag Main Committee
it was said on February % that Ger
many and Austria had made provl-
slonal arrangement with the Ukraine,
valid until July 81, respecting the i'm
port Of food stuffs, pending the con-
clusion Of a permanent treaty. 1t was
also reported at the same time that
German and Austrian commission
rrs were meeting at Berlin to agree
upon organizing in common the impcr-
tation of grain and other products
from the Ukraine. 1t was evident that
the Germans were expecting to obtain
large supplies from that source after
the crops of this year are harvested;
and it may be assumed that they will
send further forces there if necessary
to recover the cities just reported as
lost.
From old Russia Germany may prob
ably be able to obtain some supplies
next autumn A little meat has already
begun to arrive in Germany, as is evil
dent from a report Of the Berlin press
about number Of persons having been
poisoned there already by the middle
of February by eating Russian pork.
But it may we'll be doubted whether the
Germans will get as much food from
Lithuania and Courland as last year.
The fields there were largely cultivated
by German soldiers when off duty, and
these have now probably been nearly
all withdrawn and sent to the
under existing conditions will hardly
be able to keep up production.
Germany got over 100000 tons of
grain from Rumanja last year and Aus
tria over 100000 But in view of Aus
tria's even greater shortage Of food
than Germany's it is probable that Ru-
mania will be left for exploitation by
Austria.
Relies on Holland
From Holland it seems probable that
Germany vii get more food than here
tofore. Hollands refusal to accept
grain from US in exchange for it's ships
evidently means that she expects to
make an arrangement to get it from
Germany, paying with liberal supplies
Of vegetables, meat, and dairy products
Germany would undoubtedly come off
with an advantage in any such trade
1t will be recalled that Germany agreed
some months ago to supply Sweden
With grain; ard it may be assumed that
here too return payment in liberal
amounts of meat and dairy products is
cXacted. Probably more of Denmark's
products are also going to Germany
than hitherto, in view Of the increas-
ing difficulties of shipment to England
But this whole matter of Gcrmany's
further food prospects is involved in
too much uncertainty to warrant any
confident predictions one way or the
other. Nevertheless, barring dangers
from drouth and political commissions
in the East, it appears probable that the
food supply Will improve to some eX
tent after this years crops are
harvested.
In any event it is highly improbable
that Germany will reach such straits
that the hunger offensive will stop the
wheels of the great Hindenburg ma
chine The death Of some thousands of
children or old people no longer able
to fight battles will not compel the Ger
man authorities to bid for "hunger
peace" Ruthless toward their enemies,
they are also ruthless toward them
selves, so long as the territory of the
Fatherland is at stake or conquests in
sight.