The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1918-01-17

supply, hut in the outlookf0r the win
ter and spring. The public had al
ready become awarethat the bread
stuffc harvest was poor and the ffod-
der harvest bad. but further revela-
tions came rapidly during the month
which must have an all but catastrro-
pkic effect on the thinking people Of
Germany. The supply d vegetables
it became known is very inadequate
everywhere, there is hardly a pros
pect Of help from the fish trade, and
alarming drop is shown in the pros
pscts Of the already scanty supplies
Of milk, butter and fat.
Finally, on tor Of all this, It be
came clear during November that the
potato harvest was disappointing in
the extreme. The quantity shown in
the official returns is indeed disap-
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 Empire is reported as ex-
tremely poor, so that an unusual per-
centape Of loss can be. counted on with
certainty.
It is now regarded as certain that
both the meat and bread rations will
have to be reduced in the early spring.
despite d desperate effort to gather
up all the remaining foodstuffs in the
occupied territories. This latter
movement is likely to he extended to
extreme limits during the winter, with
tie result that the inhabitants Of all
occupied territories face the prospect
Of absolute starvation for. Germany's
benefit.
In an effort to stretch further the
supplies Of breadstuffs, orders have
been given for a wider use Of potato
-four, but this mo cement is found diff
:ficult owing to scarcity of potato
-four. To obtain more at this time is
not easy, for it is necessary to dry
and mill the potatoes, which takes
time, and just.now more than usual
time owing to the shortage of labor,
coal and requisites. Hence, until Feb
ruary, bread must be stretched with
fresh potatoes, a measure Of doubtful
expediency.
The failure of the fodder harvest
comedies with generally unsatisfac-
tory hay crop. This is leading to IN
creased slaughter cf pigs, a falling off
in the weight o. cattle slaughtered,
and a steady %d1miaution Of milk and
milk products.
The place Of r;eat cannot be taken
to any extent by fish, for the supply
Of fish is very poor, and the author
tiles hold out no hope Of any improve
ment. The obvious emergency food
is vegetables, hut there has been a
failure of the marxet garden crop in
many districts, and the wholesale ev-
asions Of regulations as to illicit sales
have apparently left the market al
most bare.
AS late as October, there were good
hopes of a satisfactory potato crop,
and many people described the COM
ing harvest as "almost bumper" Ear
" in November the estimates grew
more sober, and during the latter part
Of the month the truth came out. The
harvest is almost a total failure. OF
course, the authorities declare the re
vised estimates Cannot be correct
the harvest must and shall be at least
ajmedium one; the farmers are lying!
the military will be called upon to un-
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 pretence that "things will
be easier this winter than last" but
they still cling to the hope that pros
poets may be changedsby some MIRA.
Gle in Russia or italy. The Berlin
cerrespondentsof the Cologne Volks'
zeitung discussing the prospects Of
the fourth winter, says:
ut will be the hardest yet. Every
household will feel the hardships more
because all the small stocks in store
rooms and cellars have been used up
The harvest has not turned3out well
Nevertheless, the nation can hold out
Il three conditions are fulfilled. Ev
cry possible surplus should be brought
ii from Rumania. Belgium and France
All grain must be seized for thu
common store. Potatoes must b
used for stretching the bread stuffs.'
The increase in illicit trading is tn
subject Of q fiery editorial in =. tn
Brunswick Volksfreund, which says:
"As soon@as an order is issued
th~ree-fourths Of the population seel
how they may evade it. They hav'
lost faith in official promises, and tn