IN THE IMPENDING DECISIVE BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3006, 17 February 1917, Page 9

IN THE IMPENDING DECISIVE BATTLE

KAISER'S ORDER TO THE NAVY / WILL THE GERMAN HIGH SEA FLEET COME OUT AND FIGHT? ... (Rec. February 16, 8.55 p.m.) ' Amsterdam, February 16. A Berlin official message .states The Kaiser, in an order to the Navy, tsays: "In the impending decisive battle the task falls on my navy of turning the English war method of starvation, wherewith our most hated ''and most obstinate enemy intends to over-throw tho German people, against himself and his allies by combating their sea. traffic with all the means in our power. Herein trie' submarine will stand first." Ifc expresses confidence that the snemy's designs will bo broken.—Reuter.

INCREASING STRINGENCY OF FOOD PROBLEM IN GERMANY GRAFT IN BERLIN LARGE SUPPLIES OF FOOD SPOILT BY THE COLD WEATHER . ' New Yorkj February 15. The United Press Agent at Bern© states that the food conditions in Germany are steadily growing worse. There have been thousands of requests . to the departing Americans to send food. There is endless graft in Berlin. Food cards are' stolen, and Magistrates give their friends extra cards. The police are powerless, because influential peoplo are tho biggest offenders. The recent cold weather froze and spoilt largo supplies. There is the greatest difficulty with transportation, which is used up for army purposes. Thousands of schools, business houses, and apartments liavo been closed. Meanwhile von Hindenburg is coldly, calculating the possibilities of a military victory, before it is necessary to again face the Socialists and other peace advocates.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable. Assn. CRISIS EXPECTED AT THE END OF MARCH OR EARLY IN MAY, ■' m, d-n *1 m •11 !I , ' London, February 15. The "Daily Chronicles" correspondent at Amsterdam reports that an American', who has just left Germany, where he resided throughout tho war, says that afttfr tho Kiel and Leipzig food riots the soldiers"refused to lire on the rioters. This was considered a dangerous symptom, and led to the appointment of the Food Dictator. Farmers are still holding stocks, in expectation of a rise in prices. ' Any attempt to compel the surrender of hidden stocks may cause internal dissension. Ho expected a crisis at the end of March or early in May, when tho masses would.be reduced 'to a condition when further endurance would bo impossible, and tho soldiers would bo forced to yield stores to feed the civilians.. There was no fear yet of 'a military de-/' feat, hut there was a desperate' fear that hunger would force Germany to capitulato.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF RUMANIAN "GRAIN REACHES v HUNGARY. : ... ■ London, February 15. _ Vienna newspapers announce that the first: consignment of Rumanian grain has_ arrived m Hungary. Hie Government announces that it is impossible to give any to the civil population. There are bitter complaints that the Government is yielding to German orders on the food question in allowing so much grain to go to Germany. It is stated that food is so short amon" the lower and middle classes that many remain in bed the better part of tho day to save food, clothes, and shoes, and to prevent them collapsing fronr starvation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ' MEAT AND POTATOES IN BRITAIN. (Rec. February 16, 8.55 p.m.) London, February 15. There is a strong demand for six-pound tins of beef and mutton from shops and restaurants, the results of L ord Devonport's proposals. Tlio demand on Smithfield from the West End and better class suburbs has materially decreased, but tho poor districts are buying freely. The markets are abundantly supplied with home-killed beef aiid mutton, and the lioard of Trade has therefore released much less frozen meat than usual. • - . restrictions in .the use of flour for fancy, cakes, also witli respect to sugar lias serioijsly affected tho demand. A meeting of Covenfc Garden retailers decided to refuse to sell potatoes on Monday unless tlio wholesale price is ten guineas per ton. They complain of being charged £14 and £16, whereas from Monday the law compels retailers to sell at the maximum of three-halfpence per pound.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.