HOLLAND'S FEARS.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14409, 10 May 1917, Page 1

HOLLAND'S FEARS.

SHORTAGE OP COAT

Holland's fears for the future arc intensified by the sufferings of the moment. Not the least of these is caused by the shortage of coal, for which apparently no relief is in sight, as Germany's promised supplies have failed to materialise. Each day (says

an English newspaper) sees fresh factories closed down for want of fuel, while in many places schools are shut, as it is impossible to heat them, The bread-card system is working satisfactorily, -■'but a new trouble has arisen from the shortage of 'potatoes, which in the big, towns lias led" to extraordinar} scenes, crowds of women.having to ware many hours outside the shops. , It is not surprising, therefore, that a feeling of deep fore-1 boding exists. There: is whispering of starvation if overseas supplies are cut off for any length of time. Such a possibility as the stoppage of shipping is unthinkable. On the other hand no one sees a way out.

The position of Holland in regard to the international situation is admirably stated by the "Telegraaf," as follows:—

"The Netherlands and other neutrals are only withheld from following the example of Mr Wilson by tho fear of being overrun by Germany. Tin's fear is less as the distance from the Centra] Powers increases. For this reason practical action against Teutonic barbarism is to be expected first from Spain, which has no German invasion to fear, and last from Holland, which, at the moment, is within Germany's grasp on all sides." /

The journal • comments sarcastically on the tendency of the German press to tell Dutchmen thnt the need--which the submarine has brought them must be an incitement to act more strongly than before for peace. "A peace filFed with anxiety and tenor," says the paper, "i s not exactly the peace for which wo care, or look upon as in the interests of human society, and the terrorism of the .German submarine war has, let us openly acknowledge, made all peace work impossible.''

A frozen produce industry which is newly getting established i's that of frozen-fish, .500,0001b of which is for tho first time being served out as a weekly ration to the British, troops ir> camp in Great Britain (writes the Lonuon correspondent of the "Otago Daih Times") \ This is an important outlet for tho big Canadian lake and sea fisheries, which suffered a bip- check in demand at the start of the war and the industry, once on' its feet, may extend and become a regular one alter the war to consumers in different parts of Europe. It is a striking fact that whereas there is a freight charge of Id per ib on halibut and salmon l>etween Prince Rupert, on the Pacific coast, and Liverpool, it costs Jd\ or more pe>pound to take fish from Gvimsbv to London.