The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-01-02


Staple foods remain roughly at the
same prices and quantities, but extras
such as nuts, raisins, chocolates and
fruits are extremely scarce.
Rationing Problems
The equalization of food available
ity, which is the ideal goal of ration
ing, is beginning to give way against
new practices. ~
A black market exists. Coffee at
about 80 marks a pound and tea at
40 or so marks a pound can be OBJ
tanned if one knows where. In CONVEX
sations about feeding the household
the word connections" is heard con-
stantly. One develops connections"
for butter or cheese or perhaps "a
goose. Invitations are often accepted
with a readiness relative to the "con-
nections" of the hostess.
No Real Shortage
Another common household phrase
is under the counter" which de-
scribes the practice whereby custom
ers who are favored, usually for good
reason, are handed extra delicacies by
their shopkeepers.
None of these things mean a real
shortage as yet. People still look
healthy in the streets. There is no APP
parent undernourishment nor any rea-
son to believe that it exists. But these
little things merely serve to remind
the thoughtful that in another two or
three years it could be different. The
downward graph of living standards
is gradual and scarcely noticeable
from one month to another. But it
goes down over the year.
Moralelhas held up remarkably dur
ing the year and is actually better
now than at this time last year.
At the end of 1889 there was moth
ing but the victory in Poland to con-
vince the public that the German
army was superlatively powerful. The
easy conquest of France wiped out
the serious doubt which clouded the
early war months. They have that
record of victory to reassure them.
And along with this morale factor is
the growing fear of what would hap
pen should they lose the war.
The fear of the consequences of
hatred developing against them makes
the great majority of Germans loyal
to the cause of victory regardless of
their feelings towards Naziism. SO
long as they foresee victory they can
be expected to support the war effort.
The only thing which would seriously
undermine morale would be some de-
velopment which would destroy the
confidence in the possibility of vic
tory.
Foundations of Morale
On the other hand, if the expecta-
ton of ultimate victory were seriously
undermined a deep reaction is con-
ceivable.
Morale is built on the combination
of expected victory and fear of con-
sequences of failure, not on basic
faith in the rightness of the cause
There is a noticeable lack of enthu-
siasm, of any enduring crusading
zeal.
The looming menace of America on
the horizon is beginning to trouble
them 1t is another element driving
military policy toward new and early
efforts to reach the Elusive victory
quickly.
AS yet the threat is only dimly APP
preciated by public opinion sheltered
by the controlled press from full
knowledge of the American trend
Further the average German has been
told that America will aid England
only so long as England can pay. He
is inclined to believe that America is
completely mercenary
American Aid
could be dealt his morale would be an
American contribution to England
divorced from profits. Should that
happen he would begin to believe that
America is really sincere in its devo-
ton to the English cause, and that
would probably shake him.
But all of these dangers seem re-
mote to German far behind the lines
of his powerful and confident army.
Everything that army has attacked
has been conquered or thrown back.
That he knows and feels and that
keeps his confidence high despite the
gradual encroachment of shortage on
his standard of living. The end of
1910 finds the average German still
believing that the victory he has spent
eight years preparing for is still al
most within reach