Berlin Letter Tells Of European Rations

Lake County Mail, Issue 41, 17 March 1948, Page 6

Berlin Letter Tells Of European Rations

Some illuminating facts on rationing in Europe throughout the bitter winter, are given in a letter from a person engaged in international work in Berlin to a resident of Queenstown. Food is far from abundant anywhere in Europe, but some countries arc more fortunate than others. We are all aware of the meagre rations that Britain receives so that a comparison of other countries’ rations with Britain’s gives a good picture. Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland are receiving better rations, are better clothed, housed and heated. Italy and Holland have rations about the same as Britain but are suffering fr.om clothing and housing shortages. France, Poland, Bulgaria and Germany are receiving starvation rations, are poorly e.lothed and thousands are homeless. In Berlin, only small shops are open; the larger departmental stores are still a mass of rubble, as are the once famous hotels, the Adlon, Kaiserhof and Excelsior. Freight transportation is still extremely limited. Customers come from miles around to carry goods on their backs, or in hand trucks. Bedraggled Berlin to-day is striving to survive the winter while the Allies are endeavouring to bring some order out of chaos.