The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-08-27

Still Short
 Vienna Hunsriest
 Capital; Homburg
 Stolked by Famine
 London, Aug. 27 -(UP)- The European food situation is showing general improvement with the ex- ception of Vienna-"hungriest capi- tai in Europe"-and the more tragic case of Hamburg where famine and disease are taking heavy toll
 In Austria there is an uneasy bal ance-enough to prevent starvation but not enough to provide the work ing people with nourish1nent.
 The real black spot of the con- tinent is Hamburg, keystone of the British zone of Germany, where the | situation has so far deteriorated that British officials are gravely concerned. Food conditions in Ham, burg are markedly worse than they were six months ago or last year at this time.
 Here is a quick look at the food situation as reported by United Press correspondents in Europe: Austria
 No change in the past few months with the basic ration still ], 200 calories daily and the harvest not up to expectations. Vienna it. self has shortages of fats, sugar and meat, although there are more potatoes than for some time. Agri- cultural Minister Josef Kraus sees little hope for any substantial in- crease soon, says Austria will re- quire much outside assistance.
 There are 100000 ration cards in Austria emitting holders to about one-third of the carbohydrates and fats normally required and about one-half of the protein needed for health and growth.
 CzechoslOvakia
 President Eduard Benes' recent statement that food is no lonoger Czechoslovakia,s primary problem is borne out by the markets laden with a bumper crop of fruits and vege- tables, some of which will be eX- ported.
 The only serious shortage is fats and oils, whereof the average con- sumer gets an estimated 30 percent of the normal requirement but 1t is hoped the ration next year can be doubled. -.
 The country has plenty of sugar but will have to import 300 ,000 tons of bread grains. The average con- sumer gets five pounds of meat monthly and 8 half-pint of milk daily.
 ROmania
 The Ministry of Agriculture fig ures show this years improved wheat crop will permit raising the bread ration from 300 to $50 grams and will leave a small margin for export. The drought, however, will reduce the corn crop to only 50 per- cent of the national requirements and the remainder will have to be provided by imports.
 France
 The French Food Ministry esti- mates the'neW wheat crop at 75 per- cent of preWar against 50 percent last year. This is described officially as very gooN' It probably will permit an increase in the bread rations.
 French livestock production now is approximately preWar and meat may be off the ration in October. The wine ration may be doubled. Vegetables are off ration and the only serious deficiency is fats which are as scarce as they were last year. Germany
 The Allied occupation authorities consider the crop and food prospects for Germany about 10 percent bet ter than last year. This will still require the import of several million tons of food, chiefly bread grains, to the western zones for a "liveable" ration until the 1947 harvest. Despite a severe fertilizer shortage, the American Zone will produce enough food this year to maintain 900 to 1000 calories daily. The British zone is expected to produce the same calorie average and the French somewhat less. The Russian zone, with the most fertile land in Germany, is expected to be able to maintain at least a 1,500 to 1 800 calorie average.
 Allied agriculturists who toured Germany made the crop estimates, saying they saw few really bad" crops but many which had suffered from weather or lack of fertilizers. They said the prospects for next year are improving slightly but that the Americans will have to import 100000 tons of food monthly to bring the calorie average up to 1000 daily.
 England
 Generally Englands food picture is brighter but more abundant fish, meat and fruit has been somewhat tempered by rationing of bread and cakes and reduced supplies of milk.
 The meat ration has been increas- ed four cents weekly to 28 cents; fish is off the ration and plenty of imported fruit is unrationed but eX- pensive.
 Milk has been reduced to two pints weekly and bread is rationed to nine ounces daily. The fat ration is re-