The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-16
PLAGUE VISITED
upon HUNS like
KANSAS H0PPERS
CaterpillarS From DrOves of
Butterflies Devour Cabbage.
That Accounts for Sauer Kraut
Famine in Germany.
CENTRAL EMPIRES STARVING
CENTRAL EMPIRES STARVING
Stories of Terrible Conditions
There Reach Switzerland.
Old Story of Making Lard
From COrpses Won't Down.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs.

Copyright 1915 by the United ,PressJ
Berne, Switzerland, Feb. s16.-hin-
denburg is squeezing Germany like an
octopus a sponge. Even if there is
little complaint in the army over the
food, Germany and Austria are starv-
ing.
1 just heard a most remarkable
story illustrating the case in point,
which was reported at both the British
and American war offices.
A German Officer. thru an interme-
diary, approached a man with whom
he was personally acquainted A meet
ing was arranged aboard a boat on
Lake Constance. Principally. the ac-
quaintance and the officer kept the
appointment. The German Offered to
sell Prussian military secrets for $20.-
600, the allies to Judge their value be-
fore paying. The acquaintance closely
questioned the officer. VINO was of
high rank, concerning his motives.
Treason to Save Parents.
The officer broke down and wept
like a child, declaring his mother and
fatner were old, poor, broken in health
ana unable to get sustaining food. He
wanted The money in order to send his
parents to neutral country. after
which he would return to the front
and try to get killed. If he failed, he
would commit suicide.
As America and England had not
acted at the expiration of the officers
short leave, the matter was dropped
The incident shows the trend of
events.
The situation was bad six months
ago; 1t is infinitely worse today.
The last cabbage crop was a fail
ure: Next to the potato. the cabbage
is the German masses standby Like
an Egyptian plague. caterpillars de-
stroyed the crop stalk and all. 1t is
sara that a wind blew butterflies from
trence, producing the devastating
army of caterpillars
Fruit and Grain Failures.
The plum crop likewise was a fail
ure, owing to the weather The Ger
mans boast plum tree for each rnan
woman and child
Marmalade is one of the mainstavs
OF the masses. Now there is pracfi-
! caliy more.
me last grain crop was below nor
NAL despite reports to the contra ~
II was due to lack of nitrate for far-
tlizer Practically nitrates now prin-
oipaily manufactured out of the air.
9seu IN munitions manufacture.
Bread is shorter than ever. II is
mixed not only with potato flour b,,t
Win a powder made of turnips. car
rots, ehestnuts, etc, from which the
poisonous by-products have been
chemically extracted.
The German people have n sauna.
me very stars fight against u.s.
Most All Dogs Eaten.
Dogs are eaten to such an axte,t
the breed has practically disa ppeared
in certain distriets.a Crows are be-
coming delicacy. Fats are almost
totally lacking. The weekly fat ration
some time ago was So u grammes. in
Guiding lard, butter, etc. The Ameri-
can child spreads on its after-school
tart more butter than the entire
weeks ration in Germany
l have heard again the story that
corpseS are reduced for fats Two
nurses claim to have seen the process
Whether it is true or untrue the story
refuses to down.
The beer famine is growing This
is equally as great a blow to the
masses as the bread famine The
bundrat reduced malt allowances for
tpe new brewing year to 10 per cent
for Bavaria and 0 per cent for north
Germany, as against IS per cent last
wear.
Bohemia and Poland Famine Swept
German Bohemia is suffering in
teIsely. The death rate is appalling
Poland is famine swept. Cracow and
the vicinity have been drained of ev-
cry mouthful, which has been sent tC
other parts of Austria and Germany
regardless of the most primary need.
of the district.
Women carrying stafving babie.
parade the streets demanding brea(
and peace.
Pillage and wrecking are common
occurrences, while troops from othel
parts of the empire steadily shoot tn,
demonstrators down. Hindenburg il
squeezing Germany and Austria dr.
to keep up the army. This army. h,
and Ludendorff propose to feed int
the nav of another offensive.
Duped Masses VIII Rise Up.
The masses are already asking tn
why of it all The Hindenburg part,
replies with promises of an early
miraculous peace.
But the handwriting is on the wall
Nothing short of a miracle can pre-
vent disaster to the kaiser's crow
when the duped masses demand
reckoning.