"WE ARE STARVING."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 265, 5 April 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

"WE ARE STARVING."

TERRIBLE STORY FROM GERMANY. CRY OF THE WOMEN—"DEATH IS BETTER THAN SUCH A LIFE." "We are starving. Tell every hoJy outsido Germany we are starving. If our soldiers can stand it any longer we cannot. We women nf Germany cannot go on seeing our chillren suffering deprivation and hunger. We cannot and sill not. Death is letter tnan such a life, tell them. Ask them to have pity on us, for our own Government has none. Tell them all we are starving."

rpHIS is the pathetic message which a ■*■ special correspondent whom I sent on a mission of inquiry into Western Germany brought back for publication in tho "Daily Express," (says the Amsterdam correspondent of that paper). My correspondent is a neutral merchant of hligh standing and character, and I can vouch for anything he says. He visited a number of small towns near tho Dutch frontier, spent a fortnight in Cologno nad several days in Hanover, and tried to enter Essen, but failed owing to the new measures pro. hibiting the entrance of foreigners into "Krupp town." Finally, being informed by Ms Consul that tho German authorities considered him suspect, he decided to break off liis journey and report to Amsterdam. The result of his obsorvations is expressed in the above message. The misery in the little towns of North-Western Germany is terrible, despite the continued smuggling of food-; stuffs from Holland —a work in which i the German sentries take an active' hand, either by helping the smugglers to cross the frontier I/ine for fees varying from os. to £5, or by smuggling goods themselves with the of the Dutch The sentries often uso the services of children, whom they send into Holland to fetch bread, milk, and meat "for their parents." The children receive a few coppers, while tho sol'ders sell the goods at many times their real value. SAWDUST BREAD. The correspondent visited Buchhoitz, and tasted the " bread "£he local Bakers sell. He affirms that it is unfit even for horses' food, but the population has seen no other bread for eighteen months Two ounces daily of this stuff, which tastes like indiarubber, and is made of sweepings of rice and sawdust, is the chief nourishment of tho poor population of Western Germany. Meat and milk are hardly ever seen except on the tables of the well-to-da. Tho people look as might bo expected from their diet. The type of chubby German has disappeared, except among the peasants who fed themselves properly until Hindenburg called them to task for their alleged selfishness.. Most working people in Germany look pale, haggard, and ghostlike. Cologne prides itself, like every other German city, on being the best organised town in tho empire. In reality special precautions are taken, because many neutrals and many sTldiers pass through the place, and the Government dees not ■wish, to give either too dismal an impression. In reality tho women of Cologno are driven to despair by famine, for famino there is. Thh's is the " bill of fare" for Cologne people as arranged by the authorities under the card system:— Bad bread (daily) .„. Boz. Sugar (weekly) 220z. Meat, including bones (daily) ljoz. | Fats and substitutes (weekly) 13-14oz , Butterjweekly " 2oz. I .Potatoes (dairy) 18oz.

NOT ONE SHOT MOPE. Remarkable signs oP declining morale were observed by the correspondent during a few day's stay in Hanover. Visiting h?er-houses, i;e frequently overheard soldiers, even men wearing the Iron Cross, shout:—"Not one shot more will I fire. It's all over." Not a word of protest was heard. Food conditions there are about the same as at Cologne, but three eggs are allowed monthly. Favoured people can obtain one pound of vermicelli monthly. Beer is Iwid, dear, and scarce, but the litt'.o alcohol to oe had seems to be consumed by women trying to drown their trouble! in liquor. The ipoorcr class women have taken to tho drink habit with extraordinary intensity since the war began.

Tne potato ration only appears five times, a week; on the two other days the same weight of cabbage, generally decayed, is substituted. One egg every fortnight is allowed. MILKLESS MONTH. People of Cologne have not had milk for four weeks, except children under six, who receivo less than a pint da : ly. There Has been no genuine coffee for months, onyl an undrinkable substitute made with barley and sold at a high price. Beans, rice, and dried vegetables are unheard of, except in legendiary .pre-war stories, while fresh vegetabls are all seized by Yon Batocki for tho army's use. The same remark applies to cheese and tea.

I Sadness lis everywhere, though it s?ems that the police arrangements are moro ruthless than at Cologne, and people do not dare to express their feelings as freely. There is in Hanover also much talk about revolution and tho / suppression of tho Hohenzollerns. A leading Socialist town councillor said to my correspondent:—" Yes, we shall all starve in April. Wo know it, but who knows whether a German republic will not bo proclaimed before then?" This is symptomatic. Anybody who had spoken like that two'years ago would have lieen put in a strait-jacket or i locked up. "THE SCAPEGOAT.

Every market day rioting takes place between tho buyers', and often between tho buyers and the police. On Deceml:er 12 two women were killed in the open market place of Cologne by revolver shots from the police because they were quarrelling about the dearth of foocJ.

On the eve of the Now Year the food situation in Germany was more krriblo than ever, and the outlook for the future worse, as proved by the official avowal of failure contained in the circular from Yon Batocki announcing a complete reform of his food distribution scheme. Hitherto everything has been centralised in Berlin. Even the ration of cheeso for the most remote hamlet in Silesia was arranged by Yon Batock'.'s army of bureaucrats. In future everything is to be decentralised, the provincial and communal authorities controlling food distribution in their own areas.

Another consequence of the scarcity is the increase of thefts by lioys and gir.'s, who, organised in brigand "bands, break into food shops or steal ladies' purses in the open street in daytime. Tho theft statistics of Cologne show a terrible increase. Women are among the most ardent food-TTfterg. People applying to the police for help generally find coM comfort, the policemen answering, "We are helpless, because we are too few in numbers and too overworked.

on must protect yourselves." When even the German "poli7x>i" admits his helplessness it is little wonder that tho people are becoming revolutionary. Acucrding to my there am plenty of signs of the progress of revolutionary ideas. Tt is merely to stem tho threatening tide that peace overtures have been made. Everybody in Germany knows that the Emperor," tho Government, and the military clique are between two abysses—revolution within, defeat without. Soldiers on furlough discuss openly in the streets the topif-H of revolution and a German republic. The policemen heir them and smile, but do not arrest them. Mv correspondent attended Divine service in St. Ursula's Church, Cologne, ••Mid noticed that a number of women had to be carried out of the church in a

Tho people <>f Germany are not Likely to let themselves be fooled by new schemes, knowing the futi'ity of speaking of food distribution when there Is no food to be distributed. Already they have chosen Yon Batocki as tho scapegoat for all their sufferings and lie is the nir.st abused man in the Empire. Sooner or later he will lie made to pay ior tho niistatkes of the Berlin military gang and the official illusionists in the German Admiralty who have so off-n fooled the starving Germans with wi'd stories about "smashing England's loose blockade." "Anyone who doubts about the blockade" says- my correspondent "should travel into the small German towns, and be will !e able to tell the true story—if he survive-:."

fainting condition, weak from the want of nourishment. He expressed astonishment, and people said to him. "This happens continually, and little wonder in present circumstances. How can anyhody stand this food-misery and liver'"

In the courso of the service tho correspondent heard a sermon which he was able to compare with a sermon he heard in Berlin at the beginning of the war. In 1914 Germany's priesthood, on superior instructions, only preached about the sanctity of war, the beauty of victory, the certainty of Germany being "über Alios," because it was the nation dearest to God's own heart. Tho sermons of 1916 wore somewhat in the minor key, also on distinct instructions from headquarters. The priests exp'ain that Germany must suffer for her sins, bu't that tho reward —an honourable peace, with the enemy kept out of Germany's soil —will socn come.

j STAY-AT-HOME SOLDIERS. Tho spirit of tho solders on furleugii whom tho correspondent observed was extraordinary and almost incredible. Many refuse to return to tho front and have to.be brought out of thoir homes by soldiers) with bayonets and sent to tho city prison. Trtis has long since been tilled, and overflow grtols have had to bo prepared. It is often reported that soldiers refusing to return to fight have been shot in the street by soldiers sent after them. On the Cologno drill ground one day a captain slapped a young recruit in tho face l>ef6re ell the other men. The recTivit. his nose, bleeding, protested, saying that ho was a Socialist and would not bo struck. Tho officer drew his revolver and shot him. Many women of all classes are inducing their husbands and brothers to desert and meet thorn in Holland cr Switzerland, feeing that life is almost impossible in Germany. As 'to the future, there i.<i no hope except in tho Allies' magnanimity in ending the war now. Nobody even hopes for a decent peace, let alone a good i peace. My correspondent heard it said among all classes of society : j

This is not a mere rumour. It seems to be the firm intention of the German working classes, who are the greatest sufferers by the war. Revolution is the great topic of conversation. People aro not ngrced on tho means, but tho public helife seems to lie spreading that revolution is the only remedy for Germany's present troubles.