The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-02
GERMAN FOOD SYSTEM
NEEDS MANY REPAIRS
with Additional improvements Nation
Oan Squeeze Through For In
definite Time. 4
TOO MUCH UNIFORMITY.
Enorts Being Made to Suppress Sneak
Trade Prove Futile--Enemy News
papers FILLED With Discussion of
Situation.

New York, March Interesting
sidelights upon Germanys organized
starvation" are contained in German
newspapers just received here. Food"
Galleries. undertaking" "profiteer-
ing" SNEAK trade" and iron ra-
ton" are the chief topics of discus
sion; every bit of newspaper space not
taken up by military of political sub
jects being devoted 70 articles and Of
fetal announcements and admonitions
concerning food.
Although organized TO the fourth
degree the German food distribution In
still imperfect in many respects, the
newspapers at hand show, and many
columns OF advice for still further i'm
provement are offered daily by persons
in all walks of life.
Can Last Years
The concensus appears to be that
the German nation can squeeze
through" for years but only IL the au-
thorities take prompt measures make
the necessary improvements. One
chief complaint liz that there is too
much uniformity in the distribution.
individual needs, due to strenuous
outdoor work or other cases being
overlooked
A significant fact is that newspaper
reports and discussions of food thefts
are almost entirely devoid Of the bitter
denunciatory tone that characterized
such items early in the war.
The tendency lis rather to syYapR-
whore their need is shown TO havs
been so pitiful as 10 almost compel
dishonesty Nevertheless, as a deter
rent. the courts are imposing maxi
mum penalties in nine-tenths of cases
Prohteeriug both In a petty degrees
and on large scale is rampant
throughout the empire the pa psrs
show But even in cases where puro
greed was the offenders sole motive
little animus is shown in the newspa-
per reports
A prominent mining aniciai, Herr
WHITE. begins an exhaustive article on
the food problem. published In a re-
cent issue of the Berlinger Tagebiatt,
thus:
THE efforts of the authorities tn
suppress the sneak trade (schfeich
handeD, have been without success
with the ratfons that obtained during
sidsrs his natural right to still his
hunger"
Girl Steals Food.
One recent case of criminal hoard.
ing" conspicuousIy reported by the
Berlin papers was that of "A mother
and daughter In Chariottenburg.
suburb Of the capital The daughter
was employed in Chariottenburg
pomtorfice, in the parcel post division.
She was arrested when the disappear
ance OF scores of food packages, con-
tanning sugar. coffee, ducks. geese. etc.
was traced to her. II developed that
her mother made daily trips with
baby carriage In front OF tho post
office. the girl hiding the stolen pack
ages beneath the blankets A search
Of their home disclosed huge stores of
food. including delicacies OF every dis
ERUPTION. They ate butter with
spoons" one witness in the case tes-
titled. The mother was sentenced to
one year at hard labor and the daugh-
ter TO nine months imprisonment.
Another conspicuous case was that
of two printers apprentices working
I'm a government establishment where
bread cards are printed They stole
altogether 1909 cards, selling them by
the hundred TO pronteering agents. A
method of cheating cheaters" led 10
their discovery and the two boys, as
well as all purchasers Of stolen cards.
received severe sentences.
Herr witt. in his article, points out
that owing to the lack of meats and
fats. cereals and potatoes must form
four nfths of all German grown-ups.