The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-14

not starve this winter although food would be fsr from abundant. Hope was expressed by Nazis that the real pinch would not be felt until late in the winter. They said, however that a very difficult situa- tion exists in occupied sections of Russia.
 The Russian "Scorched earth" policy was blamed by the Germans for the prospect of dire suffering in this region.
 Most of the continent, according to non-German sources is already close to the hunger level due to the drain for Axis war needs, poor crops, lack of transport facil- ities, hoarding and almost total dis appearance of imports. The Inter- national Institute of Agriculture at Rome said that the European po- tato harvest was generally good, but 1t pointed out that there was much less land sown than In l940.
 OminOus Signs
 Ominous signs of the coming hunger were seen in the rationing of bread this week in Bulgaria, the recently frightened rationing in Italy, and reports from Hungary that the food shortage had become so acute in some sections that pea sants were hiding foodstuffs to keep them from German buyers and be- cause of fear of famine.
 The shortage also was illustrated by a sudden increase in the drive against horderS and black market food sales in almost all Axis occupied strongly protested black market op- erations and has promised the most drastic punishment.
 Tn Norway, 1t was reported by way of Stockholm, that the food situation had become much worse in the last month and that meat can now be obtained only once a month. Even the big fishing towns have been short Of food and the pro-Nazi Norwegian government has been forced to contribute 300,000 tons of potatoes to Germany. which sent only 25 per cent of the country's normal grain imports to Norway.
 Germany's basic food again will be potatoes on which the price Is held comparatively low in the Reich. The bread grain harvest was des- cribed as good, apparently about 24.000,000 tons. The fodder supply is low, however, which seems to pre- clude any possibility of increase in the Nazi butter or margarine ration.
 Accurate figures are virtually irn- possible to obtain, but the general picture seems to be one of shortages of bread, grain, fats and meat. Tn the case of occupied Russia, out right famine appears probable un- less the Germans move quickly to bring relief to the civilian popula- ton.
 Grain crops on the continent were reported to have suffered heavily from excessive moisture. Livestock, particularly pigs, appeared to be down sharply.
 Tn Denmark, it was reported, hogs have dropped from Q normal of 3,200,00o to about 1900 900, resulting in a shortage of fats even for Ger many.
 Some reduction in cattle is repor- ted in Germany and milk is estima- ted to be IS to 20 per cent off.
 Coal For Italy
 It ally will imp .oetrnuohgetaoinn
 Italy will import enough coal from Germany to keep her war industries running, but her civilians will be permitted to buy only 30 per cent as much coal as last year when they were permitted to heat their homes 100 days.
 According to available information, Greece. Belgium, France and Poland will suffer the greatest hardships this winter.
 Dispatches from Vichy report that France does not have enough food or fuel to last through the winter.
 Heavily-censored reports from European capitals indicate that not only the conquered countries, but even the ones adhering to the Axis alliance-Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria-will have to tighten their belts this winter.
 The outlook for Britain is bright by comparison. Heavy lease-lend shipments from the United States have already enabled Britain to re- lax some rationing restrictions. But one of the chief difficulties there as elsewhere is the problem of distri- button.