PRIVATION FACED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 6, 18 October 1941, Page 5

PRIVATION FACED

PLIGHT OF LOW COUNTRIES. FOOD SEIZED BY GERMANS. EXECUTIONS AT PRAGUE. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, October IG. From reliable reports received in London, it is clear that a terrible change is coming over the Low countries, which, before the German occupation were of the most prosperous in Europe. The industries of Belgium are seriously in a state of collapse and agriculture in Holland is ruined. What remains of its produce goes to Germany. The inhabitants, who formerly enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in Europe, are now on the verge of starvation.

In Belgium a half to three-quarters of production has been requisitioned and sent to Germany. Textile production, particularly, is suffering from an acute dearth of raw material.

The policy of slow working adopted by miners is crippling the metal industry, but what coal there is is being exported to France to assist the more complacent heavy industry of Vichy. Two hundred thousand tons goes a month, and negotiations are in progress to deprive Belgium of even more. Meanwhile the Belgians suffer from ridiculously inadequate lighting and heating, and their food is always insufficient. Often rationed goods only exist in theory. At the beginning of the harvesting, townspeople went into the country to glean stray corn, but within a few days the Germans issued orders forbidding this. A Brussels newspaper says that the cry everywhere is no more bread but loaded grain waggons have been seen going to Germany and German-owned granaries have been full, though significant fires have desti’oyed some.

Strikes in Coal Mines.

Under-nourishment faces the people of Holland, once one of the chief dairy exporters of the world. Only a little skimmed milk is available to the public. The egg ration is one a month, and the cheese ration one ounce a week. The main Dutch crop of potatoes goes to Germany, while the Dutch are supplied with bad potatoes from Poland, black outside and rotten inside. The quality of the foods has declined and prices have risen to an extent which makes it impossible for people with incomes under £4 a week to buy what they are entitled to. The position will become worse, as owing to inflation fears, the Government is trying to freeze purchasing power by increased taxes, a wage tax being one. Unemployment is still rife. The Nazi promise to end it has been quite unfulfilled, but Dutch slave labour is unpopular with the Nazis because of the difficult behaviour of the Dutch. The Germans are meanwhile ostentatiously washing their hands of crimes for which they are responsible.

A special correspondent of “The Times” states that a significant document drawn up by a high Vichy official who was sent to report on strikes at the coal mines in the Pas de Calais has reached General de Gaulle’s headquarters.

The document for the first time admits that the strikes were more widespread than was generally known. Ninety-five per cent of 90,000 miners were idle for nearly a fortnight, and the strike was broken only when the Germans resorted to arrests, which totalled 2000. Italians Withdrawn from Belgium. A Vichy official reported that the strikes were directed against the Germans, for whose armament industries the mines are working exclusively, also against Vichy for having handed over the mines to the Germans. The strikes are partly attributed to the scarcity of food, which has grown steadily worse. The occupation authorities in Paris have arrested Professor Emile Berel, a former French Minister for the Navy and no reason is given. The Independent Belgian News Agency states that the recent replacement of German troops by Italians in Belgium has not been a success. Inc Italians tried to fraternise in the cates, telling the Belgians they were m the same boat because they only wished deliverance from the Germans. Hie Herman occupation authorities hearcl this and as a result, after 15 days, Italy withdrew the Italians and the Germans took over again. The Official Gorman News Agency has reported that residents of two districts in Prague have been ordered to surrender their radios following strong enemy activity and wuisporing propaganda, apparenty due to listening to foreign broadcasts. Some Prague schools are closed because of anti-Ger-man activities by teachers, who have now been arrested. Dr. Macek in Custody. The Prague correspondent of the British United Press states that eight more men were executed at Prague and Brno on Wednesday, including a Prague policeman, for listening to foreign broadcasts. The Official Italian Nows Agency announced that Dr. Macek, leader of tho Croat Peasant Party, has been taken into protective custody. Eight persons have been sentenced to death in Sofia for spying on hoiiMi ui Britain. , Tho German commander at I iclgracie has asked for seven divisi ms for keeping order, hut only a few troops have been sent from Thrace au.i Rumania, where Italian occupation troops are hard pressed. The Italian beet continues to shell the Yugoslav coast. The British United Press correspond ent at Istanbul says a secret C/.eeii radio is spurring cm the serious sabotage campaign throughout riling try aiul is calling for revolt against the* Government. The campaign • tarred only last week, but already lias iesulted in 200 courts martial. Officials at Budapest have admitted the seriousness of the campaign, and newspapers are compelled to acknowledge its existence. The authorities are” unable to prove that in a sing.'c

instance the saboteurs acted -or a fcioign government, but on the eontiruy, the indications are that sabot.ige has been committed by patriots who hate the present Government and oppose its policy of handing over Hungary s goods to the Germans. Peasants are destroying crops and food reserves, and one was convicted and hanged.