CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1919, Page 4

CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.

AN INTERESTING REPORT. RESULT OF BRITISH OFFICERS INVESTIGATION'S. REVICTUALLING URGENTLY NECESSARY. Received Feb. 23, 6.5 p.m. London, Feb. 22. The Supreme Council for supply of relief has published an interesting report, which has been compiled from tie observations of a number of British officers who have been investigating conditions in Germany. The officers visited Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig, Dresden, .Magdeburg, and Cassel, Labor unrest ig& diminishing owing to the firm attitude* of Herr Noske, the Defence Minister whose position is much strengthened' against the Spartaeists recently. Unemployment in Berlin is increasing by five thousand daily. He total unemployed there is 200,000, at Hamburg 72,000, Munich 32,000, Leipzig This is due to the demobilisation of th« army and munition workers and the inability of the peace industries to start owing to the lack of raw material. Unemployment is a most dangerous element in the present situation. The disappearance of unemployment and hungei would dispose of any chance of Bolshevism obtaining any foothold in Germany Throughout Germany, except in the coalfields, industries are stagnant, completely shutting down owing to the lack of coal, while over a million tons oi coal are at Westphalia, waiting at th« pit mouth for transport facilities. Throughout Germany the railway transport is crippled owing to enormous quantities of rolling-stock having bees lost since November, 1918, while the passenger traffic is reduced to 21 per cent, of the normal. The shortage of 4~ staple foodstuffs is compelling the population to live on rations insufficient tc nourish the body. Mothers and children are particularly affected. Malnutrition has increased mortality, diminished the j rirth-rate, and caused a new disease. It is believed that foodstuffs will be exhausted as follows: Breadstuff in April next, potatoes in May, and fats on March 31, while the meat ration can be continued indefinitely if all' milch cows and breeding stock are slaughtered. In certain areas it is estimated that the exhaustion will occur earlier. Moreover, given normal weather, the coming harvest is expected to yield only half i the average pre-war crop. Ihe visiting officers express the opinion that the need for revictualline Germany is urgent. The country is livmg on its capital as regards its food supplies. Either famine or Bolshevism, or both will ensue before next harvest it outside help is not forthcoming. There 's no immediate revival of Germany's military power. Thirty thousand tons of bacon and , tons of condensed milk have been sold to Germany to date by the British Government.