HUNGER IN EUROPE

Southland Times, 16 October 1942, Page 5

HUNGER IN EUROPE

Decline In Wheat Yield (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 14. Axis-dominated Europe faces the hungriest winter in modern history, according to indications available to the Agriculture Department, says the Washington correspondent of The Wall Street Journal. Experts estimate that the wheat and rye output is 15 per cent, less than that of last year and the Ger-man-controlled Russian crops are insufficient to provide the additional 10,000,000 tons of grain needed for the maintenance of the bread ration. Therefore, grain must be diverted from livestock, resulting in increased slaughtering in 1942-43. Making necessity the mother of virtue, the Nazis have boosted the German meat ’ration. British and American experts say that emergency slaughtering rather than Reichsmarshal Goering’s fairy tales about the improved food situation explains the increased meat allowance. The Ukraine has also bitterly disappointed the Nazis, because the harvest last year was 50 per cent, below normal and this year is expected to be even less. Germany will obtain only 200,000 to 300,000 tons of grain, just, enough to cover half the needs of the occupation army. 1