FACING FAMINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1576, 13 July 1916, Page 4

FACING FAMINE.

UNHAPPY CONSTANTINOPLE,

HARDSHIPS OF CHRISTIANS

Constantinople faces famine. There is extreme misery, terrorism, end denunciation in the Turkish ea pit nl. Not only bread, but almost all other foodstuffs are now distributed on the ticket system. Owing - to the continued arrival of refugees from Asia. Minor, in consequence of the Russian advance, the stock of provisions available for distribution is greatly diminished, says a, Constanza correspondent. In the scramble to obtain tickets the Christians, as a rule, come oft worst; deaths from starvation trow occur daily, and are not unknown even among the Turkish population. Business is practically at a standstill, and prices have increased enormously. Sugar, petroleum, rice, coffee, potatoes, and beans fetch from 15 to 20 times their normal cost. A cup of tea now costs about Is tld in the restaurants. The only bread procurable is black and unpalatable*; this is sold at about fid per lb let (hose who can obtain tickets. In the provinces provisions are still fairly abundant, but sugar, coffee, and petroleum are no longer obtainable. In (ho city many smaller restaurants and cafes are closed, but the larger establishments patronised by the Hermans remain open.

The energy latterly shown by Mu? Pussian Fleet, which luis sunk a, considers! hit; number of the coasting vessels which brought provisions and petroleum from this port, luis caused a. further rise in prices; while the coup do grime has apparently been delivered hy the Jvoumanian Government, which has prohibited the departure of all vessels. The harbour of Oonstan/.a is now full of the small sailing craft which formerly kept Constantinople on this side of starvation.

The monetary situation is practically hopeless. No more gold is to he found in the market; silver is also disappearing; and even nickel coins have become so scarce that it is di Hi cult to obtain small change in the shops, which, instead of change, commonly issue 1.0.U.’s to their customers, on account for furllier purchases.

JUtmy of the Christians, says the correspondent, have been forced to surrender whatever money they possessed, under pain of being reported to the authorities as British or f reach spies. Appeals to the police or the Law Courts are useless, inasmuch as the testimony of a Mahonnuedan witness is always accepted against that of a Christian.