The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1918. EFFECT OF GERMAN ECONOMIC PRESSURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1918. EFFECT OF GERMAN ECONOMIC PRESSURE.

There seems to be good reason for crediting tie assertion that Germany's present desperate offensive movement is the outcome of her serious economic condition. The massing of all her available man-power and as much of her Allies' as she could procure, appears to be primarily due to the imperative necessity of winning a quick victory in order to avoid an economic collapse. The internal position of Germany has recently been most ably described by Mr. E. L. Pyke, who for three years and a-half has been an inmate of Rnhleben camp, having been interned in Germany since the commencement of the war. He only returned to London in March last, and his experiences, as recounted in the Daily Mail, have aroused exceptional interest. Not only is he a business man of keen insight, but he is an able and convincing writer, and his comments on Germany's economic position are those of an eye-witness, for the position he occupied in the camp enabled him to visit Berlin two or three times a month. He has come to the conclusion that Britain does not realise the desperate nature of Germany's in' ternal economy, and the persisteatly increasing sufferings, of the people. "Without in any way centreing any hopes of an internal crisis being a factor in a German military defeat or tending to shorten the war, the economic position may justly be viewed as an impelling force that will drive the Teutonic-armies to yictoijv or

defeat. "When the Russian collapse was paraded by the German authorities as the first ol a great military victory, with the usual ringing of bells and rejoicings by order, after the first effect of the excitement passed the people speedily realised that they were still almost foodless, and the murmur against the war at once increased. They are not allowed to know the extent of the German losses, but the gaps are self-evi-dent. The authorities have always a good supply of bluff at hand and use it freely. It is a difficult matter to soothe hungry people, but the German authorities resort to the expedient of concentrating the people's minds on the termination of the struggle by the promise of a speedy and complete victory over their enemies. Hence, the position is that Germany was forced to make a desperate bid for victory or face an internal disaster that would be infinitely worse than a military defeat. Apart from the scarcity of food stuffs, many of the ordinary necessaries for existence are absent. Illuminating oils, butter, tea, coffee, rice, rubber, soap, cotton, and leather are practically unprocurable; there are very few medicines, very little paper, and an absence of almost everything that makes life bearable. People of means can, at most prohibitive prices, only secure a very limited amount of what are required for their daily needs, so the condition of the masses may very easily be conjectured. There is not, says Mr. Pyke, enough to eat, and that is the position in a nutshell. When a fresh cabbage costs twelve shillings, no leather boots are obtainable at any price, a leg of a fowl costs eight shillings/ no soap to be had, it goes without saying that war bread in limited quantities will not suffice to make the people content with their lot, so the pressure has gradually grown until it threatens disaster unless a speedy remedy is provided. Moreover, the drain on the man-power of Germany is much nearer the limit than is the case in England, and the only consolation given to the Teutons is that they are led to believe the British are suffering as much, if not more, than the Germans. It is not surprising, therefore, to learn of the existence of a surging and increasing amount of revolutionary undercurrent in Germany, which, owing to the extreme scarcity of food, may break out, possibly by the accident of a moment. The iron rod of discipline .as yet holds the people in check, but the yearning for peace and food is becoming an obsession. The question of the moment is what will happen when •military failure becomes apparent? Austria is even in a worse plight, for, in addition to her grave economic condition, she is faced with racial troubles that threaten to lead to disaster. Hitherto Germany's so-called victories have not brought food to her people. The army's needs are the first consideration, for soldiers eannot fight for long on empty stomachs. The statements made >y Mr. Pyke are in large measure corroborated by other sources of information, and they tend to explain the boastful tone of the German official messages. It is, so tar as the military authorities are concerned, "all or nothing," and is why the desperate gamble is proceeding.