The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1917. THE BLOCKADE OF GERMANY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16231, 29 March 1917, Page 6

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1917. THE BLOCKADE OF GERMANY.

: Lord -Robert Cecil, Minister of -blockade, has made a statement in regard to the effects of the Britisn Navy's sileiit pressure upon Germany which is far motu emphatic than any statement made officially before. A The Minister has stated that he would be " deceiving the' country' 3 if Hie did not say that there was the greatest, shortage of food in Germany as a result ,of the blockade, also of wool, cotton, lubricants, and other necessities. He added that lie was ''disinclined to disbelieve" the reports, which were apparently well authenticated, of food; riots' in Germany. There has been much evidence in- the past few months, apart from that supplied by. official German, proclamations, .of the severe effects which the blockade is now causing to our enemies. We may give • statements from • three sources. On January 12th, a neutral correspondent \ of " The Times," .whose observations have proved correct in the Past, wrote from Cologne to tha£ journal, describing. the conditions which surrounded him. He declared that since the period of Mr Curtin's investigation of the. economic situation matters had heen getting- steadily , worse. fit Would be'no exaggeration to say that one can now see fresh terioration every week", , and the pace downhill is g-ettinsr faster.

. . .. It is not only my impression, but that of German friends who are in a position to know tlie facts as. to tlie food supply.', that Germany is faced by tlie prospect of being unable to continue the struggle, unless, as' people sug.gest, here, she really raids Denmark or Holland or both for meat, corn, butter, and oil." The position of the general population, especially in the towns, -was described by him as deplorable, and the only .hope the Germans had left was that the war might be won for them in a few months by their, submarines. LeadingAmerican papers have been giving- prominence to reports" of Enrn Can Ber Klei, a journeyman Dutch printer, who, after a residence of sixteen months in Germany, tells, if possible, a still, more emphatic tale. When he entered the country he weighed 1421b5; when he left he weighed 1201bs. ■ "The whole German nation is on ration, and the ration has been reduced to siege conditions." When he entered the country it was ''bleeding profusely," as a result of the warfare on huge fronts, but it was "bleeding red." By January he was convinced that it was "about to bleed white." He had no doubt that "Germany is cracking." Her foundation stones were being "eaten hollow by the war," and she would come down suddenly with a crash. If the Germans can hold out till next August, _ when the next harvest will begin to come to hand, collapse from a food shortage may be avoided, but the blockade's effect in cutting off ino-redicnts of munitions is as threatening as its effects on food. 'V nation in tlie condition which these and other witnesses have reported obviously is not in the best state to vie in munitions making with the Allies, even were insrredients not reduced. The Americans who left Berlin with IVTr Gerard when relations were suspended were inclined to think that the real reason for deporting Belgians was to assist retirement from the greater part of France and Belsium. if that course should be forced xipon the German armies.