The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-27

ton can only be attempted late IN the
season. The varieties of seed were not
selected with sufficient care. Artifi-
cial manure was unknown. The yields
of hay and clover. rape-seed and flax
were alone satisfactory.
The transport of store. to the rail-
way and other collecting stations was
a particularly arduos business. The
roads were bad. and it took days to
get the product of the land to these
places in small carts drawn by one or
two horses We paid premiums, but
the peculiar difficulties of this theatre
of war could only be reduced, not elimi-
mated. A good deal was never delivered
at all
Arrangements were Immediately
made for installation of pOtato-dry-
ing plants, and we took steps to organ
ize the nTOduction of fodder from wood
and straw.
TOOK A CENSUS OF CATTLE
1t was doubly necessary to exploit to
the full the resources of the occupied
territory, the demands on the home
cattle stocks were SO great. Cattle had,
of course, suffered severely owing to
| the war. A census had to be taken. 1t
was a difficult business. Many were
hidden in the cellars or driven into the
| forests, but we were gradually success
| full in our stock-taking, although there
\ was no register. But by degrees we
got a regular trade going.
| We paid much attention to the Guilt
| walton of vegetables and fruit. Jam
| and marmalade factories were estab-
| lished. Mushrooms in large quantities
| were collected and dried
| The fishing rights of the numerous
large lakes we're leased. At LibaH deep
| sea fishing was organized
! Everything that could be used Tor
| food was developed to the fullest ex-
| tent.
The condition of the town popula-
| ton was desperate, and in the WIN
| ter of 1915-16 we were compelled to
| draw on our military stores for the
alienation of distress. Later the con-
ditiOns improved considerably. The
| army received its share, and 1 also
helped the home country.
l remember that when in June or
July, 1916. Herr Won Batocki asked me
| to assist Berlin l was in a position to
do So
LET AMERICAN JEWS HELP
In order to help the country we per-
mitted the activities of the existing for
eign maintenance committees of thu
various nationalities inhabiting the oc-
cupied territory, on condition that the1l
support should not be confined to in
habitants of their own nationality, but
that they should also consider others
The Jewish committee, who had the
largest means at their disposal (de-
rived from America), showed them
selve broad minded, and did usefu
work. Their activities testified to the
extraordinary unity of this people anc
won recognition. The first Jewish ma
tonal kitchen established in Kovnt
bore my name. The army Rabbi Rosen
ack made the suggestion to me.
The conscription of horses naturally
!, lay in the hands of the military. Th'
occupied territory had to supply larg'
number, if we wished to avoid making
!, yet heavier demands ON the home cOun
try.
The Lithuanian horse is small ant
| strong: it possesses great powers o
!, endurance, and its wants are few. 1t i
therefore very useful animal for mill
tary purposes.
The country was bound to SUITE
severely as the result of the continu
Gus heavy demands made upon it, an
the constant levieS of horses and cat
, tie. The local administration authori
ties often drew my attention TO TIM
fact, but there nothing for 1t bn
, to insist ON these deliveries. The are
governed by was NO more severei
taxed than any other. The home coun
try ALSO suffered from the measure
. we were forced to adopt.
PUTS BLAME ON AGITATORS
A great deal of the discomfort tina
: was apparent later was traceable t
these inevitable military acquisitions
Seventies that occurred from time t
time may have increased this ill-feel
I, ing: they certainly did harm. Tn
political democratic agitators made
their business to add fuel to the flames
1t would have been an absurdity t.
] spare the area administered by tn
commander-in-c chief in the east from