GERMAN FOOD SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22824, 25 September 1939, Page 10

GERMAN FOOD SUPPLIES

EXCELLENT HARVEST REPORTED

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON FOOD SITUATION

(Received September 24, 8.45 pjn.y BERLIN, September 23. The German Ministry of Agriculture announced that the harvest was one of the best in the country’s history, being 27,400,000 tons, 500,000 more than in 1938. Millions of tons can be hoarded. The prospects for meat, eggs, and fat are not so favourable, but it is claimed that the , rationing system beginning on September 25 will provide sufficient. Potatoes are plentiful and will riot be rationed.

APATHY AMONG GERMANS

COLLAPSE AVERTED BY PROPAGANDA ACCOUNT BY AMERICAN (Received September 23, 11.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 22. The New York “Sun,” one of tfie leading afternoon newspapers, prints an: interesting dispatch ftom its Paris correspondent. The correspondent says that an American businessman who has been in.Germany since the beginning of the war, left with a feeling that revolution was inevitable in Germany in the winter if Hitler’s invasion of Poland had not kindled temporary enthusiasm. In the last week in August this man had the immediate impression that the country was on the verge of-an upheaval. Criticism and dissatisfaction with the Hitler regime were widespread. People seemed to take for granted that a collapse was imminent? but a clever propaganda campaign quickly persuaded everybody that it was England which began the war for imperialistic purposes, with the result that popular sympathy was immediately rallied. Herr Hitler is unifying the nation in a sincere belief that it is warring in self defence. Thoughtful people, however, fear that Russia may take the opportunity to spread Communism all over Europe when the combatants are exhausted. The first uncensored story to leave Germany since the outbreak of hostilities was told by a special newspaper correspondent who arrived at - Amsterdam from Berlin. He described the apathy of a crowd outside the Chancellery while Herr Hitler was making his speech to the Reichstag, announcing that Germah troops had invaded Poland. An open window on a balcony on the Chancellery was an indication that the Fuehrer might appear to receive the plaudits of the crowd. A small crowd stood in the Chancellery square during the speech. In addition, there was a guard of 3000 Storm Troopers and police. ■At one stage a section of the Storm Troopers raided the cry: “We want the Fuehrer,” which, stated the correspondent, is part of their ritual. The crowd, apathetically, took _no notice and made no demonstration. Quietly, the window was closed.