BERLIN IN THE THROES OF A SERIOUS FOOD CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2984, 23 January 1917, Page 5

BERLIN IN THE THROES OF A SERIOUS FOOD CRISIS

. UNPRECEDENTED PRIVATION , ANOTHER INVENTORY TO BE TAKEN OF ALL FOOD STOCKS , London, 'January 21. The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Rotterdam states that the population of Berlin is in the throes'of a food crisis moro ecr'ious than anything yet experienced. Many largo bakeries havo closed. Tlio authorities tell the pcoplo that the difficulties are duo to frosty weathbr hindering traftic. The public, however, realises that the period of unprecedented privation against which it was warned has commenced earlier than the Government anticipated. Tho vaunted German organisation has broken down. The authorities have ordered an inventory to be token of all stooks in tho Empire, far, punmso o£ gersuading tho psoplo that jfcho soiai-fanuHq ia partly duo

to tho producers holding up foodstuffs in tho hope of higher maximum pnccs. This is untrue, as frequent raids on farmers lave proved a. real shortago. There were unprecedented scenes a fortnight ago in Berlin. Long queues of women attended tho bakeries, being unable to obtain broad oxchango cards. The bakers explain that they no longer receive-, (sufficient; potatoes to mis with the flour, -while nu extra allowance of flour is givon. Berlin isalso Buffering a great shortage of milk, due to snowstorms. The public: is paying fifty pfennigs a litre. The Food Department has ordered that the popular liver and blood sausages, in future shall contain 12 per cent of bran in addition to other material, not customarily used for human consumption. A proclamation in garrison towns asks civilians to undertako iho duty o!; guarding the railways and bridges; such civilians to carry weapons and be allowed to make arrests.—Aus.-N.Z.Cable Assn.. EXPORTS OF LUXURIES FROM GERMANY PROHIBITED. The Hague, January 21. Germany has prohibited thc_ export of luxuries to Austria and' Hungary, and has warned travellers that jewellery is liable to seizure at the frontier. Owing to the ehortago of horses in Berlin the police have authorised tho use of oxen to draw carts. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY'S STOCK OF WOLFRAM EXHAUSTED, . Paris, January 21. The "Journal" reports that repatriated officers statfl that Gormany's stock of -wolfram is _ exhausted. A. prize of a hundred thousand marks has been offered the provider of a substitute.—Reuter.