Spectre of Famine.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4460, 30 January 1917, Page 5

Spectre of Famine.

Conditions

in Austria-Hungary

People in Terrible Plight

Starving Women Goaded to

Desperation.

General Hieing Predicted.

(United Press Asbckj:

iaiion—Copyright.)

(Australian and N.Zi Cable Assn.) ' (Received Jan. 29, S.lO p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 29.

The Morning Post’s Budapest corres. pondent says the latest feature of the food crisis is the growing desperation of the women, who are unable to provide their children with the bare necessities of life. Many are absolutely without coal, petroleum, wood and milk. Prices in many cases have risen three hundred to a thousand per cent. While the stock of rice in the country totals fifty waggon loads, beef is costing 10s per kilogramme, fat 7a 9d, and butter 10s Bd. New vegetables cannot be expected before July and unless a miracle happens famine in its worst form is inevitable. The fixing of maximum prices has resulted in holding up stocks and thus far has caused a greater scarcity. Some relief has been afforded by pig slaughtering. The richer Budapest families bought up thousands of small pigs in the spring and had them fed in the country and are now receiving considerable supplies of pork and fat. This wholesale slaughter*is going on because the Government prohibits the use of maize and fodder. It is possible to restrict the feeding of a few hundred thousands of people in a besieged city, hut 120 millions are not easily managed. Hundreds of thousands of Socialists and other disaffected elements must be reckoned with, while millions of women, bereaved and poverty stricken are possessed of a single thought—how to feed their children. It is impossible to reason with them on political or patriotic grounds. , The next few months will reveal the strength of millions of uninstmciod and desperate women, who have given sons and husbands to the war and now find that they can endure thenmisery no longer.

CONDITIONS IN AUSTRIA

UNIVERSAL DESIRE FOR, PEACE

ATTEMPT TO THROW OFF GERMAN SHACKLES.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn (Received Jan. 29, 5.5 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, Jan. 29. M. Dmitri Jantcheevetsky, the Russian publicist, lias been released after thirty months’ imprisonment in Austria. He states that there is a universal desire for peace on almost any terms in Austria-Hungary, particularly among the Slavs and Magyars. There is no feeling of bitterness against the Entente. The Emperor aim Empress and Court are endeavoring to secure independence from Germany. The food supply is relatively good in the north, but actual hunger prevails in south Hungary. The southern Slav States are deserting owing to underfeeding. The cost of living has increased threefold in the last six months.

GERMANY ALSO HUNGRY.

OFFICIAL WARNING TO THE

PEOPLE

FURTHER FOOD ECONOMIES NECESSARY.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 29 An official statement by the Imperial German food office declares that despite favourable corn crops Germany’s position is worse than in 1916 owing to the failure of the potatoes. A system of economy must be carried out immediately if it is to be possible for the nation to hold out till next harvest. Imports from neutral countries are also decreasing in quantity and foodstuffs are very scarce. Strict organisation is_ necessary and this is done with difficulty owing to the opposition and resistance of large sections of the population to the ordinances and restrictions issued.