Russian Food Supply

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1917, Page 2

Russian Food Supply

London, Feb 8

A correspondent. of The Times at Petrograd has telegraphed :—“The scarcily of food in the midat of plenty is the sole-topic of discussion everywhere. The poorer people last summer began queues, waiting from 10 p.m. till 8 a.m. outside municipal meat markets for morsela of meat. The queues have since becoms general, the tiuh people represented by tuVir servants. The poiice prohibit congregating bsfcre G s.m., but many hours of wailing in e t&mpai stare 20deg below zero h necessary to secure the poor eosiinance. I saw a queue of 1200 people outside a co-operative shop in Koelov waiting to buy flour. At Kos'ov there has been no fljuc for 10 daye, al'.hcugh six of (ha largest mills cf Russia are within 250 miles. “Two years’ supple? for the population exist in the country, bus means of distribution are locking. An instance ia given in which 1,500,000 poods (54,000,0001 b) of iya is in the elevators of Cue town within2so miles of mills with a capacity of 1,080,000ib daily, which are idle. Such iusiancee of disorganisation are very numerous. Except tea, I he prices oi necessities of life hive risen from two to .ten times on peace prices—butter is eight times, mutton and bread of poor quality 2 1-3 times higher. Household expenses, eliminating luxuries, with four meatless days, have increased 4| times.

“ The Ministers of Prov'sions, Agriculture and the luterior have separate special organisations in the food regions, which result in overlapping and quarrelling. Attempts to fix the prices of beef, bread ana milk have proved unsuccessful because of elaborate procaaurp, Lorg waiting queues are requited befoie supplies are obtainable. The inadequacy of the railways to cope with mill!ary and food transport is admitted. It is no wonder the peoplj are exceedingly angry with the Government’s inefficiency.’*

A German Offer

Washington, Feb 12

The Stats Department announces the receipt of a memorandum from the Swiss Minister, stating that Switzerland has received a request from the German Government to notify the United States that. Germany is willing to negotiate with United States provided the commercial blockade against England is not broken therebly. The State Department has replied that United States will gladly diecu?s with Germany aoy question it may propose, provided Germany withdrew its proclamation of the 25th January, in which, suddenly and without previous intimation of any k : nd, Germany cancelled the assurances she gave United States on 4th May last, but that United States does not feel that itoan enter into auy discussion with the German Government concerning the policy of submarine warfare against neutrals, which it ia now pursuing, unless and until the German Government renews its assurances of 4th May and acts up to the assurances.

A Pro-German Move.

Washington, Feb 12

General Carranzi, of Mexico, i 3 issuing a communication da-igned to shorten the war, urging neutrals not to send supplies, including munitions, to any belligerents. This is generally interpreted as a pro-German move in order to bring pressure on the United States.

Wholesale Hangings

(Received Feb 14, at 8.50 a.m.)

London Feb 13

Tho Servian Legation states that the Austrians are hanging many oivilians in Servia for petty offence?, including the giving of food to fugitives, having more food housed than permitted, and for retaining copper utensils.

Numbers were hanged because they couldn’t or wouldn't indioate where the State archives wer9 buried.

A wealthy merchant was banged for refusing to reveal tho whereabouts of bis private property to the Grown Prince.

Another Coming In

London, Feb 13

The Morning Post states China hands the German Minister his passports on the 17th.

Effects of Blockade

Hagoe, Feb 13

The Beiliner Tageblett published a phtoograph of elephants from the Berlin and Hamburg Zoos drawing truckloads of paper for the Tageblatt.

Horses, petrol and tyres being unavailable. Shipping Movements Continue. Rome, Feb 13 Despite unrestricted submarining lialian shipping continues as heretofore. Mariners regard the measure of protection as efficacious.