Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-02
| HOLLAND SHIPPING
FOOD TO GERMANY
Washington Stirred Over the
Dutch Kingdoms Breach of
Pact With Allies.

Washington, July 1.-The announce
ment that the Dutch Government had
begun to send large shipments of potatoes
into Germany Mt time when the armies
and civilian population of the Central
Powers were most in need of foodstufi,
caused profound stir in official circles
here yesterday and there were evidences
that serious situation might develop
shortly If the program were continued.
The latest adviccs are that Holland
proposes to send equal amounts Of pota-
toes to Germany and the allied Govern
ments, and is prepared to devote 30, 600
tons to these trades.
The Allies, however. do not need or
desire any such amount of potatoes, and
the fear is expressed that If the pact If
kept practically all of the 80, 900 tons may
reach Germany, where they would be
Immediately available for the armies
| against which American soldiers are
| fighting.
SITUATION CRITICAL
The situation is considered doubly
cr1tlcal as q result of dispatches stat
ing that Germany had decided to reduce
its potato ration from seven TO three
pounds weekly. and that there was grave
npttDi Iffat the tHAtFi tdttoB fptiu i'F
maintained Some felt that the attitude
of Holland in coming TO Germany rescue
at such moment was one which the
United States could not permit without
definite and far-reaching measures rs n
protest
1t was even possible. it WAS said last
night, that q situation might be created
where the United States would feel it.
self unable TO reach an agreement Dy
which Holland would receive VARIOUS
foodstuffs IT desires If II wishes TO CON
tinue its trade relations with Germany
and send large quantities OF potatoes
for the upkcep OF the Germans.
GERMANS MOST CRITICAL TIME.
The best advices ohtainahle here are
that Gen many will face the most crit
ical situation of the war, so far as food
is concerned, from this time until Aug Is
when il will begin to eat its new harvest "
The supplies from the Ukraine have been
disappointing because of internal con-
dltions. and the fact that crops did not
come up to expectations Large guam
titles of the supplies from this source also
must be sent 10 Austria, Hungary and
Bulgaria in an effort TO prevent social and
political unrest
The meat supply has been cut 10
minimum because of the fact that north
ern neutral nations OF Europe, largely
as result of the American embargo policy
have been forced to slaughter their herds
and cannot maintain the steady ship
ments which were possible in 1916 and
1917. All of these facts have contributed
TO the gravity of situation such as now
has developed.
HUNS TO SEND coin To DUTCH.
News dispatches which have just reach
ed this country stated that Germany
had promised 10 send $1,000 tons OF coal
into Holland during July in return for
the potatoes.
Further information which has been
received here intimates that Germany
is ready 10 go even further than that and
Is willing tn mortgage its next wheat har-
vest by promising 10 contribute from il
10 Holland thousands of tons Of wheat if
TIE Dutch will go through with the present
deal and aid Germany in the present
crisis
If Holland were to ship but 25 600 tons