Evening star., 1919-03-02
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

I STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
PARIS, February 19.-Is the Ger
man hungering? Is he really in need
of allied assistance or is his whine
OF today only one designed to obtain
pity of the world-the lessening of
the hard conditions that otherwise
might be imposed upon HMM view
Of the deliberations of the peace con-
ference wherein viii be fixed the pen
afties to be placed upon the shoulders
of the German people, and where,
owing to the peculiar and complex
political conditions prevailing in Eu-
rope today, many OF the economic
problems are discussed at length with
the idea of settlement
II one asks the American Army man
from the occupied regions of Germany
whether there is plenty of food he
viii probably reply: THE boche has
plenty. Why waste our mercy on the
Hun when the peoples of France and
Belgium need attention., But II one
turns to the medical officer who has
investigated conditions prevailing in
Ehineland, which are typical Of those
in practically the whole of Germany,
the answer will be that Germany is
badly in need of assistance. and that
&OHGlLEOHS VIII EEtN NOiSt IStittt
than better before the next harvest
arises.
Germany Land of Cemeteries.
Germany now is a land of ceme-
teries, hospitals and starvation" In
this way did Lieut.. Col. Scale Harris,
Medical Reserve Corps OF the United
States Army and brother of AdJutant
Gen. Peter c. Harris who has Just
re where he had
been on an extended tour of inVesti-
cation, sums up the situation prevail
ing in Hunland. Col Harris made an
extended report 10 President Wilson,
who is intensely interested in Ger
many's economic situation as it af-
fects European political conditions
In telling of pTesent-day trials of the
Germans, particularly the women and
children. Col. Harris said:
'In going from place to place in
an automobile and making brief stops
at many points I observed that many
Of the people, particularly the chill
dren, were very anemic- The aver
age observer might not notice this
so markedly as would a physician.
So impressed was ] with the preYa-
1ence of anemia that / made further
Inquiries and found that as rule
the Germans are not getting sufh-
cient food to maintain health and
life.
"In 1906 spent some time in study
IN Berlin and Vienna and I am fanil
lar with the German customs of eat
Ing Before the war the people were
great gourmands; in fact, the way
in which they gorged themselves, the
frequency with which they ate and
the amount of beer-swilling seen
everywhere in Germany and Austria
used to cause the American pbysi-
clans in Berlin and Vienna to term
them pigs Conditions are very diff
ferent today The meat-eating, beer
swilling German seems TO have dis
appeared. All classes are suffering
from the lack of nourishment.
States January Rations.
''Rations for the last week in
January consisted of 100 grams Of
barley, 100 grams Of potato flour,
five pounds of potatoes-four potatoes
average a pound. and half of them
obtained by the Germans are rotten
1000 grams of bread. $50 grams Of
meat on Saturday only. This is suffi-
not be obtained at any price and there
is practically no milk. Adults are
allowed half a pound of sugar per
month and children are given half
that amount. Children from one to
three years are allowed one pint of
milk day, il there is any. Apparently
there is very little milk generally
and none in many places.
From ten years old and upward
the people of Germany know exactly
what they are to get each week. and
all complain that they were not get
ting enough to eat.
81 went into a number of stores
which had quite imposing display
IN the windows, but<foupd inside that
many of the shelves were empty or
filed with boxes from which the
goods had been taken The meat
shops and grocery stores make dis
plays of food, but it cannot be sold
except by government cards and at
such high prices that none but the
rich man can buy them. l talked TO a
number of groups Of shop girls and
with few exceptions the girls and
women showed marked signs of
anemia. They stated that they had
lost from ten 10 forty-fve pounds
during the course of the war
Il talked with mum ber of children
frudging along to school through the
snow wearing paper sandals in cloth
shoes with wooden soles. when asked
what they had TO eat that day, and
every day. the inyariable reply was;
Soup. potatoes and little bread. The
soup is made Of barley or potato -four
and often contains vegetables. Not
one of thirty children remembered
when they had milk. The Germans
have more vegetables than anything
else. but many vegetables are eaten
now that Were once despised. The
bread is black. gritty and tasteless.
il is made of flour sold TO the gov
ernment and no one knows it's exact
composition. II is thought 70 be of bar
ley, potatoes and beat root. None Of
this -four is sold except to bakers and
they can sell only certain amount OF
bread to each person applying, and
then only uPon receipt OF ticket for
daily or weekly supply.
Increases of Diseases Noted.
.~r,,hn-oulosia &c i,creavin~ aror-