New-York tribune., 1919-12-15
has made contracts for Danish and
polish notatoes.-

has made contracts for Danish and
Polish potatoes
The outlook for the supply OF fats Is
equally bad. as the number Of swine
has been reduced to ne-half of that
tefore the war, and slaughtered ami
mails now are much smaller. The cattle
also are greatly reduced in numbers,
and the Strengthening weight of beeves
averages only 28b pounds, rs compared
to $50 pounds in pre-war days.
Cattle of Light Weight
FoodstufYs for cattle consist chiefly
Of hay, straw and turnlps, and no rich
nitrogenous feed, which formerly was
imported in large quantities. AS re-
suit, the average daily milk per COW Is
three and one-half liters. against ten
liters previously. There is still great
scarcity Of milk, and only small chill
dren and invalids get modest allot-
ments, and adults in good health never
see milk The situation is no better
now than at the worst period during
the war. and will grow worse if German
COWS are to be delivered to France and
Belgium.
In view of the prospective scarcity
Of meats, the government has placed
large contracts with American firms,
but this imported meat will be much
too expensive to reach the broad
masses of the people. But the govern
000, 900 marks cheapening it, and a
good supply is anticipated until next
spring.
1t is very necessary for Germany to
have foreign credits in marks, because
she must depend for some time on con-
siderable imports and is unable to pay
cash, owing to the depreciation Of cur
rency here.
Sugar Supply Falling
The shortage of coal also reacts un-
favorabiy on the food supply. There
now are 120 potash mines idle because
they lack coal, and forty sugar facto-
res are closed, lacking beets and coal.
Many farmers also are unable to
thrash grain because coal Is unobtain
able, due to overworking the miners
during the war and the fact tNat the
equipment of the mines has been al
lowed to deteriorate. Furthermore,
there was a strong unwillingness to
work during the first months after the
revolution, and the big April strike
alone caused the loss Of 100000 tons
The demand for coal for such abso-
lutely essential requirements as rail-
ways, gas and electric plants is SO
great that the shortage is felt mainly
by household consumers and industrial
plants, which is further aggravated by
shipments to France under the terms
Of the peace treaty. Many manufact-
to the coal scarcity, and even one of
the big Krupps mills is idle, as we'll
as other important plants.
1t is expected that many other es-
adjustments will have to close in the
next few months, and great numbers
of workmen will be thrown out of en-
nloyment, which will render the gov
crnment's position still more difficult.
This involuntary stoppage of work Is
all the more regrettable because work
men recently have shown an increased
Willingness to work.
Price Prevents Imports
Germany might meet her most press
ing needs by importing coal and fuel
oils, but here again the price question
arises, which appears to be wellnigh
prohibitive. Germany's own produc-
ton recently has shown tendency to
Increase, and in come sections the pro-
duction has nearly reached the peace
thing possible to stimulate production
and is accommodating funds from in
creased coal prices to build houses for
Workmen which are greatly needed in
the mining districts, hoping thereby to
attract new men to the mines.
If Germany could produce enough
coal for its needs and had railway
equipment with which to distribute it
its chief economic difficulty would be
removed, for her factories could be
started on export orders. There is a
great pressure from foreign buyers for
glassware, porcelain and many other
goods, but Germany is unable to take
contracts owing to her lack Of coal.
JtA1 - 4.<A.A
Border Control frightened
BERLIN, Dec. l4.-(By the Associ-
ated Press).-The government is now
attacking IN earnest the problem of
hating the indiscriminatn nxnor4 a 2