Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-01-04
GFRMANY UPSET
 OVER BIACkNfSS
 OF FOOD OUTLOOK
Breadstuffs, Potato Crops Fail - Meat Scarce -
 Early Hopes Smashed.

,, Correspondence of The Associated
 PreSS)
 Amsterdam, Dee. 31.-Ine month Of November marked probably the black est period in the history of the Ger man food supply, not indeed in the actual supply, but in the outlook for the winter and spring. The public had already become aware that the bread stuffs harvest was poor and the fodder harvest bad, but further revelations came rapidly during the month which must have an all but catastrophe eff feet on thinking people in Germany. The supply of vegetables, it became known. is very inadequate everywhere, there is hardly any prospect of help from the fish trade. and an alarming drop is shown in the prospects of the already scanty supplies of milk, but ter and fat.
 Finally, on top of all this. it be- came clear during November that the potato harvest is disappointing in the extreme The quantity shown in the official returns is indeed so disappoint- ing that the authorities refuse to ac- ccpt the revised estimates, declare the farmers liars and propose to call in the military to rCqulSltlOn stocks. Moreover, the quality in different parts of the empire is reported as eX- trcmcly poor. so that an unusual per centage of loss can be counted on With certainty.
 It is now regarded as certain that both the meat and bread ratiOns will have to be reduced in the carly spring, despite a desperate effort to gather up all the remaining foodStuffs in the oc- curicd territories This latter move mcnt is likely to be extended to eX- trcme limits during the winter, with the result that the inhabitants of all occupied territories face the prospect of absolute starvation for Germany's benefit.
 Bread Substitutes Scare.
 In an effort to stretch further the supplies of breadstutfs. orders have been given for a wider use of potato flour, but this movement is found diff ficult owing to scarcity of potato flour. To obtain more at this time is not easy. for it is necessary to dry and mill the potatoes. which takes timc and just now more than the usual time owing to shortage of labor, coal and other requisites. Hence. until February, bread must be stretched with fresh potatoes. q measure of doubtful eXpedicncy.
 The failure of tine fodder harvest eoincides with a generally unsatisfac- tory hay crop. This is leading to in creased slaughter of pigs, a falling off in the weight of cattle slaughtered, and q steady diminution in milk and milll products.
 The place of meat cannot he taken to any extent by fish, for the supply of fish is very poor, and the authori- ties hold out no hope of any improve mcnt The obvious emergency food is vegetables, but there has been a fail ure of tho market garden crop in many districts, and the wholesale cyasions of regulations as to illicit sales have apparently left the markets almost bare
 Early Hopes disappointed. As late as October there were good hopes Of a satisfactory potato crop | and many people described the coming 1 harvest as almost bumper" Early ir 1 November the estimates G"ew more sober. and during the latter part Of the month the truth came out The harv- est is almost q total failure. Oi course, the authorities declare that the revised estimates "cannot be cor rect" the harvest must and shall be at least medium one; thc farmers arc l lying. the military will be called upor ] to uncover a medium one; the farm' ing districts will be compelled to de | liver the QuOtaS which theV were assessed in expectation of a norma | harvest
 The German newspapers have allan duncd the preteucc that things wil nc easier this winter than last" bu' they still cling to the hope that pros 1 poets may be changed by some miracle i'll Russia or Italy. The Berlin corrc Spoudent of the ColoSne NollszeitunG discussing tue prospects of the tourt winter. says,