NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 52, 1 March 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

KEEPING ORDER IN GERMANY. CIVILIAN FOOD SUPPLIES. SHORTAGE BECOMING SERIOUS. INEFFECTIVE RATION SYSTEM. February 25. In addition to the ordinary military duties concerned with the demobilisation and formation of strong points on the boundary of the neutral zone, our dwindling - division is mainly occupied with education and certain administrative duties in the occupied area. Our commandant is a divisional general, and under him there arc three ollicers acting as suh-ar-a commanders At present one of the main considerations is the supply of food to the civilian population. Our zone is mainly an industrial one, set in a district of moderate agricultural and pastoral capacity. Factories have had to dispense witli thousands of workmen owing to the scarcity of raw material and the lack of markets, and undoubtedly the food shortage is becoming serious, and but for the presence of our force there would be considerable unrest, and even Bolshevism. This is fully recognised by the manufacturers. As one of the principal industrialists puts it, "1 realise that if the New Zcalanders were not here t would not be here."

The Burgomaster states that the people in poor circumstances are suffering in health from want of nourishment. These number over 10.000. There are, in addition, 54,000 who arc willing to pay for a grant of army rations, which equals one soldier's ration to four people. There are, in addition, 400 Allies and neutrals, mostly Italian, who need assistance. In one of the subareas there are 3,000 children suffering from lack of proper nourishment. The position is complicated hy hoarding, and what is known as the

"iSchleichshadel system," or sale of food by these hoarders to people who can afford to pay for it. Undoubtedly German organisation of rationing has not been effective, and n large percentage of the civilian population have not played the game as the British have played" it in their own country. Nearly 90 per cent of the people are concerned in the Schleichshadel system, and the Gorman Government are reluctant or afraid to interfere. The only remedy appears to lie requisitioning and the entire control by the occupying armies.

In one sub-area, with a population of 12,000, deaths have increased from 140 in 1914 to .100 in 191 S. The weekly ration is at present: Potatoes 5 i_unds, flesh 150 grammes, fat 30 grammes, bread 4 pounds. Milk is available only in small quantities for children and the sick. One has only to look at the children to conclude that Germany will feel the effects of this malnutrition for at least another 20 years. In some parts milking cows have been killed to supply meat. The situation as regards meat has. however, been somewhat relieved by tbe sale of our useless horses. Four hundred horses of the New Zealand division have already been sold for slaughtering at price, raiif-inj- from £15 to £20 each. The potato -shortage is serious, and supplies will not last beyond the middle of next month. Already civilians from one town in our area are making raids on the potato pits in another part of the area.

The influenza epidemic amongst our troops is apparently abating, and only a few cases are now daily reported.

We have now got rid of practically all our horses, the jrrcat majority having been sent to British bases. Only five horses will be taken buck to New Zealand, and these for sentimental reasons.

Oeneral Napier Johnston is in command of the division. Owing to labour troubles in England the camps there are full to overflowing, and the Maoris have not yet been able to leave, though it was understood here some weeks ago that they were already on their way to New Zealand.— (Special from the Official War Correspondent.)