Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-30
German Food Troubles
Due to Poor Distribution
Unlike Russian Famine

Hamburg, Aug. 27-(By Mall
Germany's collapsing currency a.
the resultant food shortages are M.
ducing situation wholly unlike IL.
in Russia two years ago when L
ruble first descended 10 the POI.
where one dollar purchased a mills
rubles.
Russians were in the throes Of [
famine caused by drought in d
wheat raising districts. And thsi
railway system was in need Of n
pair and utterly disorganized \
labor troubles and sabotage.
Millions of persons were actual
starving. Many of them were
flight from the burned-ou district
most of these without the means
buying food even where it was avail
able.
In Germany today the dislocasd
population is not large, and u
families which have been deporE|
from the Ruhr are for the most pz1
provided with some paper money 4
the government.
The Russian government, tH|
previous to the decline of the ruiz
to the million point, had changed i
economic policy and discontinued Z
plan whereby it had sought to preij
money utterly worthless and uses|
by promising workmen actual ia1|
and clothing and rent and hghtss
heat in exchange for their Eoa|
Consequently Russians sudden
found themselves without food u
tons and without money as VEL Il
unemployment was widespread.
The food troubles in Germany u
largely the result Of imperfect III
tribution. There is food in III
many, but the economic crisis
the unwillingness of dealers TO sen
for paper money which descends
value by leaps and bounds are no.1
ing the food out of the market ~
riots in cities and threats OF
fiscation by Communists have y
couraged the farmers and rnais
gardeners from carrying W.
products to centers liable to ol@
der. -
It is the old problem Of the y
against the country. the pea
against the industrial laborer;
farmers are in better condluon
Germany than any other class
they are holding their produces
payment in something more ~
than paper marks. They are sasT
Ing in barter and exchange; y i
common now in Russia Dealu
particularly unwilling TO !et
any products which are impor.SG
they cannot raise suff1cient So MI
replace them. Unless tney a a.,
in gold or its equivalent wno.eM
and retailers alike prefer " .,srs
their rice and coffee ana othet .tsd
food products which are inipO. ~ n
But Germany is accustomeo
ing without real coffee. Even or.
small vegetable gardens about =
lin nearly all raise a small paw, M
rye which is roasted and mace
a coffee substitute for tne ,cssNs
which must save every M
mark. 1t is potatoes when: .,tisE
bread. are the most important c 90,
of diet with the average seas;
family. The lateness OF ',i ers ccr
and the excessive raintail p Wild
tributed to the potato shortas' raislsH
is becoming very acute anu
much disturbance. ,otatusE
Women who cannot puy nh
in the markets are in sIpsSnrdstt
renrasents a loss of the founuINs
of the average German lai M
meal Meat prices have long .oSss
nrohibitive for families in n ssnlu
circumstances. But until Bit
potatoes were within reach, IN IN
ter, butter substitutes and az
of fats are also extremely s Ssld d \
the public markets and are p ant prsr
price beyond most purses. n u
tically all sorts OF fooosth the par
available in Germany II ths tefp
chaser Is willing to mee adecus
f er nee reaten t to handle them
t tTR is Unsatisfactory D be- aaSlss
the crash in the currency anu
ened nolitical troubles.