Short Commons

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 July 1916, Page 3

Short Commons

jU'iom London i'iuies Gorrespoiul>eiit in J ihe Balkan Peninsula.) j Coiisttintza, April 28. I Constantinople is now almost wholly dependent on provisions obtained from this port, supplies from Asia Minor having practically oome to an end. In ordei to rescue the population of the famishing city from imminent starvation a ileet of many hundred sailing vessels and some steamers is continually kept employed in accomplishing the journey of about 2? to 30 hours. The, cargoes, as a rule, consist of cereals, flour, groceries and petroleum. The riekfl of the voyage are groat, owing to tho vigilance ol the fftissia.n fleet, especially in the case of .steamers which are compelled) to traverse the open sea. The small sailing vessels which hug tho coast more frequently succeed in reaching the mouth of the Bosphorus.

Great profits are made by Turkish captains and skiuuers engaged in this hazardous occupation ; the crews arc for tho most part engaged in Constantinople at low wages, which they sometimes supplement, by small trading on their own account.

As all exportation from Roumanian port,, lias been prohibited for more than it year special permits for export must be obtained from the Government by vendors of foodstuffs before tlie.v negotiate a .sale to shippers. Tbe vendors recoup themselves for the expenditure incurred in securing permit's from officials by charging high prices to shippeis, who willingly pay them in consideration of the high profits made on the sales in Constantinople. The shippers further |)«y large sums to the captains of ships, but offer all deductions their net profits often exceed lOf) per cent. Constantinople is thus saved from staiTation.