The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-04

The great offensive has been fore ed upon Germany by her inability to obtain supplies from Russia and the Ukraine, and the breakdown or the means of transport. All Germany looked to the East, where the people were told were unlimited food sup plies, which would soon be available for them. But these unlimited sup plies" have proved a snare and a de- fusion. They do not exist and there is no hope of their existing until or der has been realized. Months, per haps even years, must elapse before this can be accomplished, and mean while Germany is starving, and the Allies are growing stronger.
 A Critical Situation
 The food situation in Germany has been, and still is, one of the most powerful factors in the whole posi- ton. Had it not been for the critical state Germany is now in, she would never have started the offensive.
 Under normal conditions Germany although boosting of her "self-con- tainedness," is only able to produce from her own resources a bare sui ficiency of food to keep her own peo- pie alive; but under the abnormal conditions existing today she finds herself absolutely unable to produce one-third of the bare necessity. And the difficulties of producing this bare one-third have been gigantically in creased by the blockade which the British Navy has enforced.
 The first real hardships were ex- perienced in Germany during the early winter of 1917. I was then in Der lin, and well do I remember the agi- tation of the labor leaders. A con- ference of the Federation of Trade Unions was held, and the seven larg- est halls in Berlin were taken on one night for the purpose of holding meet ings to discuss the food situation. The speeches delivered at those meetings were kept well within the limits inn posed by the regulations, but it was easy to see that the temper of the worders was rising.
 Illicit Trading In Food
 At each meeting the same resolu- -tion was unanimously adopted. This resolution demanded on behalf of the workers of the Fatherland, whose pa ltriotism anad devotion to the cause of the Fatherland was unbounded,' ? more energetic steps to suppress illi- cit trading in food, a uniform supply and an increase in the potato ration.
 The potato ration was then fixed al ' lbs. per head per week, but none except the rich, was even able to ob. tain this quantity. Generally lbs per head was the maximum.
 Although promises of reform were da iTn in f6o place, and no improvement in the supplies was ever noticed.
 In December, 1917, the ration o. fat, including butter per head pei week was fixed at 25 ounces, and ont egg was allowed under the rationins system per head per week, while thu meat ration was fixed at ounces pel week.
 But the fixing of a ration and tn, distribution of ration cards do not il Germany today mean that a perso1 will obtain the supply of food appor tioned to him. can safely say tha throughout Germany I have neve found a single town where the peopl, regularly receive week by week thei full allowance of food.
 Towards the end of December
 l Christmas day. No one need starve il Hamburg so long as he possesse money, and is prepared to pay tn price secretly. The man with whon I was staying made no secret of tn fact that he was able to procure al foods necessary. He was a wealth man, and this accounted for his be ing able to obtain food. -One da he showed me large ham, for whic he had paid a farmer $200. Tn poor people are starving and the ric living in comfort and luxury. Littl wonder then that in Hamburg discon tent is rife, and there are shoulder ings of revolution.
 In Hanover conditions are exceed dngly bad. Last month there was n fiat to be had. Hanover is an agr cultural district, and people in tn country have been given to under stand that the agricultural distric+