WAR PRICES IN GERMANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 168, 15 July 1916, Page 15

WAR PRICES IN GERMANY.

THE -PEOPI/B HAILrF.6TAItVED. j

SVG AK AND COFFEE, 5/ A POUND.

The following interesting communication reaches the London "Times" via Warnemunde and Copenhagen. It Is addressed by oue neutral to another, and can be taken as absolutely accurate:—

The condition of such parts of Germany as I have visited —the Berlin, and Hamburg districts—is interesting. Much money is In circulation, and there is work for all, •but the whole population is on short commons as regards many necessaries. This fact is causing an infinite amount of grumbling among the poor, who are heartily sick of the war. They have no voice whatever in determining the course pursued "by the Government and the upper and middle classes, who are, of course, not suffering. The English blockade, so long ineffective, is now having some result, and the Germans look forward with great anxiety to the next two months before the harvest. The Government tells them that they have only to hold out until July and all will be well again. Harvest prospects vary greatly in different parts of Germany, but in general crops are suffering from lack of fertilisers. EASTER IX BERLIN. I was In Berlin for Easter. There is no apparent sign of distress, but when one goes below the surface of things oue learns a great deal. The soup kitchend are being opened on a larger scale than at any previous time since the beginning of the war, and the soup itself is of very poor quality, composed chiefly of potatoes. Diet is largely one of substitutes—saccharine instead of sugar, imitation coffee instead of real coffee, and co on. Even the beer is now adulterated. Bavarians especially are grumbling at the hop shortage that will injure their brewing this year. I have seen meat cards, bread cards, milk cards (one of which I enclose), and washing soda cards. Soap cards are in preparation. There is plenty of gaiety In Berlin. Offlcers home from the front fill the theatres, and the women are well dressed in Paris fashions. Attempts to introduce German fashions have hopelessly failed. There are a good many wounded to be seen in public places. At the Easter races a novelty was introduced by a great display of Zeppelins and Taubos over the racecourse. The Shakespeare celebrations were in full- swing. The chief anxiety of the Berliners was that there should be no trouble with the United States. A.i to troop movements. The Kaiser was on the Western front, at Verdun, I believe. Many -more troope are coming west than going east. The Germans have no fear whatever of the Russians. I learned in Hamburg, from a friend -well able to ascertain, that there is a semi-famine in Turkey and much bitterness. .HAMBURG GEEBE £2 EACH. Hamburg itself is a desert. The good people of Hamburg and Bremen consistently oppose the proposed retention of Antwerp. They fear it will injure their ports. Food was higher in Hamburg than in Berlin.. The -well known Hamburg geese are selling at £2 each. In addition to the shortages I have already mentioned, there are all sorts of others, such as of string, which is now being made of paper. In Hamburg I asked the price of sugar, and was told 5/ a lb! Coffee was also that price. In Berlin the best cuts of beef are 6/ a Jb.

It is now difficult for rich Germans to escape to Denmark and Switzerland. As you know, large numbers left for these countries in order to toe more comfortable, but the passport regulations are now much more stringent.

But for the fact that the Entente Allies nppesr to Tjg on the defensive evervwTipi , ** and the extreme docility of the German people, I think there might be something like a national protest against the war, difficult, however, as it would be to organise while so great a portion of the male population is away nt the front.

Such soldiers as I spoke to seemed absolutely confident that Germany had won.