IN GERMANY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 2 May 1917, Page 3

IN GERMANY.

WOMEN SHOT IN FOOD RIOTS

KAISER'S BIETHDAY "CELEBRATION.

The Hague

Food rioting of the most serious description took place in Strasburg on the Kaiser's birthday, and 3S persons were shot by soldiers acting under the Military Governors orders. The people had been promised extra rations of bread, meat, and milk for January 27, but were informed on the morning of that day that the authorities were unable to keep their promise. They were advised to make this new sacrifice "like men." This official advice was deeply resented by the hungry population. . A procession was formed, and, carrying a black famine flag, marched towards the Military Governor's house.

Troops and police had been called out in preparation for expected trouble, and a bloody encounter took place not far from the Cathedral square. The soldiers, after one warning, fired into the, mob, which consisted mostly of women and girls. These facts have been made known here by German deserters, who left Strasburg on January 30, and managed to reach Holland a few days ago. Two of the deserters had near relations killed in the affray.

According to their stories the food situation is worse in Alsace than in any cthen district of Germany, owing to its proximity to. the front, whither all the available foodstuffs must be sent if the soldiers are to continue fighting. Strasburg, Metz, and Mulhouse have at different periods suffered real starvation. Alsations have no claim on the "bounty" of the authorities, possibly because they are considered as "secondclass Germans." There is never a market day in Alsace without the police having to interfere. Even the troops in Strasburg have seen no meat except ridiculous rations for over a year. Mortality, especially infantile, has risen by 70 per cent, in comparison with, the prewar figures. One of the deserters, on being asked by me why he deserted, said: "I was a mining labourer and therefore could continue work until seven weeks ago, when all mining workers, skilled, and unskilled, were ordered out of the mines to make room for Polish and Belgian deportees. We Germans were put in uniform, drilled at full speed, and sent to the front without anything like a war training. I was. near Verdun for, two weeks and received a slight wound. I was then, taken to Strasburg, where I managed to escape from hospital by bribing three of the guards with food. '•'You can bribe any German soldier now with bread," he added; "possibly officers, too."