Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-12
FUTURE OF GERMANY
DEPENDS ON RESULTS
Great Offensive Forced by Failure to
Obtain Food From Ukraine
and Russia.
ILLICIT TRADING IS COMMON
Dutch Official Says Germans Are
Desperate, With Potatoes Once in
Six Weeks and Minister'S as Prof.
tccrS.
Bl A DUTCH OFFICIAL
just Returned From (;crmnny,)

Upon the success or failure OF tho
German attack now commenced the
whole future or Germany depends The
Kaiser and liindenburg are determined
TO hack Il way" through, and they
have been forced to this determination
By the absolute shortage Of supplies
in Germany. 4 shortage which is lit
orally eating the heart out of the pco-
pie.
The great offensive has been forced
rpon Germany BY her inability tc OBJ
ain supplies from Russia and the Uk-
fainc. and the breakdown OF the means
OF transport. All Germany looked TO
the East, where the people were told
were unlimited food supplies, which
would soon be available fer them. But
these unlimited supplies" have proved
a snare and delusion. They do not
exist. and there is no hope of their
existing until order has been realized.
Months. perhaps even years. must
ciapse before this can be accomplished.
and meanwhile Germany is starving.
and the allies arc growing stronger.
The food situation in Germany has
been. and atill is. one OF the most pow
crful factors in the whole position.
Had 1t not been for the critical state
Germany ~ now in, she would never
have started the offensive.
Under normal conditions Germany.
although boastins Of her "self-con-
ta!nedness." is only able 10 produce
cheney OF fo ID TO keep her own peo-
pie alive: but under the abnormal con-
dit!ons existing to-day she finds herself
absolutely unable TO produce one-third
OF the bare necessity. And the din
cultics OF producing this bare one-third
have been gigantically increased by
the blockade which the British navy
has cnforC I'd
The first real hardships were ex-
perienced IN Germany during the early
winter OK 1917. | was then In Berlin.
and we'll do j remember the agitation
Of the labor leaders. conference of
the Federation OF Trade Unions was
held. and the seven largest halls in
Berlin were taken On one night for the
purpose OF holding meetings TO discuss
livered at those meetings were kept
we'll within the limits imposed by the
regulations. but 1t was easy to see
that the temper OF the workers was
rising.
DEMAND SUPPRESSION OF
ILLICIT TRADING IN FOOD
At each meeting the same resolution
was unanimously adopted. This reso-
luton demanded on behalf OF the work
"rs OF the Fatherlahd, whose patriot
ism and devotion TO the cause OF the
Fatherland was Lnhuunded." more en-
eEsetic steps 10 suppress Illicit trading
In food. uniform supply. and an in
crease in the potato ration
The potato ration was then fixed at
seven pounds per he; d per week. but
none. except the rich, was even able TO
obtain this unantit:. Generally three
pounds per head was the maximum
Although promises OF reform were
made. no Increase in TIE ration took
nlace. and no Improvement In the sup
plies was ever noticed.
In December. 1917, the ration OF fat.
Including butter, per head per week
n
was allowed under the rationng sys-
tom per head per week. while the meat
ration was fixed at six ounces per
week.
But the fixing OF a ration and the
distribution OF ration cards do not in
Germany to-day that a person
VIII obtain the surply OF food appor-
toned 20 him. 1 can safely say that
throughout Germany have never
found single town where the people
regularly receive week by week their
iull allowance OF food.
Towards the end of December 7 was
In Hamburg. and there l spent Christ
mas Day. No one need star"e in liam
burg so long as he possesses money,
and Is prepared TO pay the price Sc
cretly. The man with whom l was
staying made nc secret Of the fact chat
he was able to procure all foods nee
eSsary. He was wealthy man, and
this accounted for his being able TO
obtain food. One day he showed me a
large ham. for which he had paid
farmer $40. The poor people are starv-
ing. and tie rich living in comfort
aid luxury. Little wonder then that
in Hamburg discomfort is rife, and
there are smolderings of revolution.
In Hanover conditions are exceed
ingly bad. Last month there was no
fat to he had. Hanover is an agricul-
tural district. and people in this coun-
try have been given &c understand that
the agricultural districts OF Germany
are NOT SO badly off. Such, however,
is very far t.'om the fact. Last year,
owing to lack OF manure and labor.
partly owing 10 the drought, the crops
were poor, and hardly paid for the
reaping.
EPIDEMIC OF "HUWCER
TTPsIU&' IN HANOVER
In the early days of the war heavy
encroachments were made upon the
cattle stocks. and although large sun
cd