FOOD CRISIS IN GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 5

FOOD CRISIS IN GERMANY

FURTHER REDUCTION IN RATIONS THE UKRAINE ARRESTS (Rec. May 5, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, May 3. Herr von Waldow, the German Food Dictator, has announced in the Reichstag that it will be necessary to reduco the bread ration, unless the stipulated quantities are imported from the Ukraine. The rations of meat and potatoes will most likely bo lowered. Tho Socialist members expressed the opinion that th& people would take the reduction of tho food allowance badly. The food question in Bavaria is most serious. Tho arrests in the Ukraino have excited bitter feelings in Germany, and the Socialist deputies intend to interpellate Count von ITcvtling on tho I matter. The Government, in consequence | of criticisms, has sent a wireless message to Von Kichhorn to immediately release those arrested. It is stated that Von Biohhorn and also Von Mirbach, Ambassador at Moscow, will be summoned to Berlin to report exhaustively on the whole situation. The entire Liberal Press in Germany has joined with tho Socialists on this issue, and accuses the authorities of causing an anti-German agitation Ln tho Ukraine for their own ends. "Vorwaerts" >ays: "The methods employed have resulted in groat political disadvantage to Germany, who has not secured a singlo riece of broad from the Ukraine, whereas the whole of the Gorman food programme was founded on. tho supposition that wo were getting ample supplies of Ukrainian gram.'-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. I It was previously reported (via Gor-1 man Bources) that a strong anti-German i agitation had developed at Kieff, supported by members of tho Government, and resulting, inter alia, in the distortion of j the German decree regarding the spring! sowing, which produced excitement inthe country, and caused tbe arrest of the manager of the Russian Bank for Foreign Trade. The Ukrainian Government | (stated Berlin) connived in the arrest | of the manager. Field-Marshal von liichhorn was therefore obliged to take drastic action, including tho establishment of military tribunals, Bevere penalties for disturbers of tho peace, and arrest of tho Ukrainian Minister of War, tho wife of the Minister of tho Interior, the commander of the town militia, and others.