Evening star., 1946-03-24

fEur0pe came through its first
postUdr Uinter Without disaster, but
there is slight hope that it can sur
DiDe equally Uell until harpest time
1oithout aid. The same applies to
parts of India and China. Here, as
reported by Associated Press corre-
spondents. is the food picture around
the 1corld)
LONDON.-Europe, emerging from a
miserably hungry winter without dis
aster, now faces the possibility OF mass
starvation before harvest time.
In Asia it is largely the same story.
In South America, on the other hand,
q few countries may show food surpluses.
In Europe, the skimpy diets, mainly
bread and potatoes, that kept people
lean but alive through the winter are
being cut still further, largely because
of world wheat shortage.
y Disrupted distribution channels con-
tribute to hunger in many sections.
Planting is getting under way in
warming Southern Europe, spurred on
by every government. but the harvest
prospect does not help now, and even
in the planting there are many obstacles.
Seed-for potatoes, grain and vege-
tables-are scarce. The United States
has shipped seed to many countries,
including large consignment to Ger
many. Russian occupied Saxony has
sent seed into the western zones of Ger
many. Denmark and the Low Countries
are sharing vegetable and potato seed
surpluses with their neighbors.
Fertilizer Is Scarce.
Much land produces poorly. and fer
tilizer is scarce. Many fields, particu-
larly in France, Germany, the Low
Countries, Poland and Austria, are
SCARED by war and difficult or impossible
to cultivate Farm machinery and draft
animals are scarce, throwing heavier
burden Of work on the underfed people.
The Emergency Economic Council for
European advisory board for II West
ern European nations-has been called
to meet next month in London. 1t is ex-
pected to recommend two general
courses-reduction of livestock to free
more grain for human use, and in
creased grain sowings.
In India, famine conditions exist in
several large cities, and the government
has taken over the feeding job. Some
public gardens and official lawns are
being moved for planting
There is a familiar pattern in four
Chinese provinces.
Nation by nation, this is the food po-
sition around the world, as reported by
Associated Press correspondents:
EUROPE.
GERMANY-British officials predict
widespread starvation in western cities
Bavarian Red Cross reports one-fourth
of displaced children have tuberculosis
and more than half are suffering with
rickets and measles. About half those
with measles die, it said.
In British and French zones, basic
rations have been cut by about one
third. Russian and American zones are
better of, but United States authorities
say they can maintain 1,500-calorie
diet for only another month, and the
Russians are beginning to run behind.
British authorities are considering
cutting to the starvation level of 750
calories-about the same as the Ger
mans provided inmates of the Belsen
concentration camp.
A wet season delayed spring planting,
and oficials point out that about Is per
cent Of Germanys prewar agricultural
resources now are under Polish domain.
A pooling of food in all occupation
zones appears likely Jointly admins
tered Berlin is fairly well fed and school
children get hot lunches.
AUSTRIA-The normal daily ration
has been cut from 500 calories per day
(regarded as the minimum for mainten-
ance of health to 1900 calories, and the
full amount rarely is available. Grain
supplies virtually are exhausted, and
imports will be required until the har-
vest. With $1,000 to $4,000 tons of bread
grain needed to meet the minimum
monthly requirements, crisis is COM
ing during the next two months. The
first UNRRA shipment from America
5000 tons-has arrived, and another
small shipment may arrive next month
Hopes that Austria can grow even a
go per cent normal crop this year is
contingent on arrival of seed, imple-
ments and fertilizer.
HUNGARY-Some deaths. from star
vation already. Nation lives almost
wholly on bread, with a daily ration of
about five ounces. No sugar except a
third of a pound monthly for pregnant
women and mothers of nursing babies.
Grain acreage 20 per cent below normal.
BULGARIA - Faces starvation.
Drought cut 1945 food production, by 40
per cent. People live on slightly more
than a half pound of food a day, of
which about six ounces is bread. Home
grain supply exhausted. Seed almost
unavailable, horsepower tottering for
lack of fodder
Russia has sent 10000 tons of wheat
and 10000 tons of corn Bulgaria is seek
optimist about their outcome. I be-