The Daily News FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1915. GERMANY'S FOOD PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 210, 12 February 1915, Page 4

The Daily News FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1915. GERMANY'S FOOD PROBLEM.

The question of the food supply of belligerents is one that is always considered to have an important effect on the duration of hostilities. When the present war broke out one of the first matters discussed was Germany's economie position in relation to foodstuffs, especially as to the stock in hand and the prospects of her harvest. German authorities had taken good care to make it J known that there was ample food supplies in store for all requirements of the army and the civilian population for at least twelve months without taking into account the coming harvest or imported supplies—if she could get them. \\ e ventured to question the accuracy of this pronouncement and to point out that waste and other causes would soon tell their tale and expose the fallacy o? the German calculations. Let us see what ensued. The wheat harvest fell below the estimate, and early in No-

vrmber mills were forbidden to use more than 37> per cent, of wheat in bread, \Vhich was further ordered to contain 10 per cent, of rye. The price of wheat in November was oOs' Gd per quarter in English money, against 30s (id in I'.ngland. Rye, barley and oats also rose markedly in price. Already there has not been wanting signs that tile stress of hard times was pressing or. the people of the Fatherland. When patriotic people first feel the pujigs of hunger they are mostly constrained to bravely face the situation so long as t'H'y can keep body and soul together and tide over the crisis, but when they have undergone starvation and see famine and death staring tiiem in the face they are apt to get out of hand. Germany knows this (juite as surelv as any other country, and consequently has' made every effort to reassure the people that the food supply is sufficient for their needs, only they must be economical and avoid all waste. To that end the Prussian Minister of Commerce issued a significant document which states that "Germany stands against a world of enemies seeking to destroy lier. It will not succeed in defeating our brave troops, but it would starve us as though We were a besieged fortress. 1 his step also will not succeed, for we have enough corn in the land to support our population until next harvest, Cut there must be no waste, and breadstuffs must not be given to the cattle. Take care, therefore, of the bread that the hopes of our enemies may be frustrated. Treat the daily bread with respect, for then you will never luck it,

no matter how long the war may last. And teach this also to your children. Do not despise even the smallest piece of bread; it does not matter if it is not quite fresh. Do not cut more ofl' the loaf than you can cat. Think of our soldiers at the front, who would often rejoice had they the hread Whicli you waste. Eat war-hread (potato). It satisfies, and is just as nutritious as ordinary luvad. if all cat this bread

ive need have no anxiety as to our supplies. Jic.il the potatoes in their jackets, and in this way save food. Kcfnse from potatoes, meat, vegetables which you cannot use ought not to be /'thrown awav ( but collected as food for the cattle. This refuse will "oe gladly collected by farmers." Beading between the lines, it would seem that this document is little more than a carefully-veiled admission that tile I'oasled stores have been found wanting —as they always are at a time of national crisis. It is not suggested that Germany is already starving, but we [cannot ignore the famished condition of n:au\ <>] tile (.ermaii prisoners, nor' is it to be forgotten that early in October the Prussian Diet voted a loan (largely on a paper basis) amounting to sonic lift.v millions for the relief of distress throughout the kingdom. Since then there have been no ollicial price-lists published, and it is known from many sources that the Herman stores of foodstuffs are running short. Additional emphasis is given to this assertion by

tile attitude of tlie German Chancellor, ill relation to the new blockade policy against Britain. ))r. Betbmann-Holl-wog declared that Germany did not propose to die of famine, and that the commerce blockade was intended as an attempt to starve Britain "in revenge for Britain starving Germany." It is more to the purpose from a convincing point of view to note that the Cologne Gazette, early in December last, stated frankly that if matters continued unchanged there would very soon be a famine in many districts. The whole question had been discussed in the

Reichstag', but stops wcro taken to prevent reports of the discussion from appearing in print, and frantic efforts have l>cen made by the German Press Murcau to make it appear that the condition of affairs is normal. The Government's action in commandeering corn supplies Mas simply a confession that the scheme of "economic control" instituted on the outbreak of war had broken down hopelessly. In spite of all efforts of the German Press to paint the situation in a rosy hue, the task is too hopeless, and tile grey tint becomes the predominating color. The very fact that "war bread" has been ordered to* be taken is of itself an important admission. It is all very well for the German Chancellor to proclaim to the world that his country shall not die of starvation; but

Itoiv can he prevent it except by doing what Britain hart done—swept her enemy's commerce vessels from every sea. Tile one great outstanding feature o? the peril now facing Germany is the initial mistake «he made, in her calculations for a dash to Paris, followed by a swoop on Russia and a quick return to Berlin. The stars in their course fought against Germany—are even yet lighting—and so are the Allies, nor will tlie terrible conflict end until the power and ambition of the Teuton Emperor is broken, probably from within and Without. Once, the people of the Fatncrland feel the horror of famine the last of tlieir illusions will have vanishid, and they may be expected to revert to the barbaric methods which have been so much in evidence amongst the German forces. The cause of right must triumph in the end, but it is inevitable that much privation, sorrow and distress must bo faced by the innocent as well as by the guilty.