The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-20

pound. During my visit the following
weekly rations were allowed each per-
son in Beriin--when they could get
them.
Bread. two pounds; butter. one
seventh of a pound red" meat, one
half pound, potatoes, pounds: sugar,
two thirds of pound, eggs, three
mot three pounds, just three eggs)
Sugar and Butter Scarce
Sugar and butter might as well have
been eliminated from the list. for only
one of the many stores where | called
could either of these articles be had
at all This was at Martins.
Other food products ouch as. fish
poultry, tea and coffee substitutes.
vegetables, fruits ana sour war mar
malade and purchased in the open
market where one could find them
without cards. But unrationed food
was very expensive.
At Martins market the following
prices were quoted: Butter. so cents
a pound: marmslade. 20 cents "a
pound: potatoes 5 cents a pound
granulated sugar, six cents a pound .
eggs eight cents each and picked her.
rings Ga very popular dish in Berlin)
50 cents a pound
War bread was S cents pound at
all bakers.
III aCIuai pTactlEe nutIGT COulu only
be obtained from the hated food pro-
fiteers. For instance, had luncheon
at the home of q prominent Swiss
physician who. at the table, iuhlsntly
announced that he had succeeded in
eorraliing several pounds Of butter at
6 marks $50 a pound. Although
| quite serious, I was told that the food
situation in Berlin was really better
| this year than last.
Carrots and Tnsnips Chief Diet
Last year We had to make all sorts
| of dishes of carro.s and turnips"
\ chef at the kafsor hotel told me.
| The whole nation lived almost ex.
| clusively on carrots, potatoes and tur-
! nAps. Berlin was desperate. Food riots
occurred every day Rut that did not
| help the situation any. There was
nothing else to give them Many riot
ers demanded pen ce. The police and
military answered the cry with their
swords"
As the result of the meat shortage
Berliners are raising rabbits in large
| numbers Everywhere back yards and
empty lots have been converted into
breeding grounds FOR rabbits. Every
family had its brood OF rabbits. Here
and there ] saw "A goat among the
rabbits. Along the railroad tracks in
the country ! saw ,arse herds of goats
| managed to get some fair meals
AT restaurants, though at exorbitant
prices. Yet, after each meal ! was
not quite satisfied The absence of
fats was responsible for this feeling
M gravy was served anywhere
found goat meat unscrupulously
labeled mutton" on all bills of fare
The Beritners no longer kick at this
deception. Long ago they learned
that mutton" means goat.
A serious shortage of red" meats,
fats and milk was evident everywhere.
While the food supply had been some
what augmented by the Brest- Litovsk
and Bucharest treaties, 1t was not to
the extent that the people had ex-
pscted. During my visit. the German
government loaned the army 5000 tons
of rye. This was sop to stop the
cry for separate peace.
Considerable quantities Of beef. +
was told were being diverted into
Germany from Roumania.
But" diners at tic restaurants told
me, at does not do us civilians any
good The army takes il all"
Practically every Berliner ! saw
that the application of the
food rationing system was ineSuitable !
Tin Bavaria and elsewhere In the I
south the rations are much larger than
IN Berlin" | was told repeatedI@.
Apparently there was flaw some
where in GermAnys Wanted efficiency.
A Dresden merchant stopping lat the
Kaiser hotel tote me farmers Of Sax 4
ony were selling large supplies OF ,
grain, eggs butter and vegetables to /
the starving Bohemians' neighbors t
instead Of complying with government /
rules. /
Tuesday and Friday were officially
designated - yneattess days In Ger !