GERMANY FROM INSIDE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11757, 22 July 1916, Page 7

GERMANY FROM INSIDE.

"LACK OF FOOD WILL DECIDE

THE WAX."

THE PRESENT SITUATION.

The Copenhagen correspondent of the London "Exchange" sends a translation of an article from the " llibos Stiftstidonde" dealing with tlio general stiuation in Germany, and of its fighting forces. Tho writer says under date May 24: Tn spite of the energy and capacity which Germany is displaying in order to nettle her food problem, sho will bo unable to carry on 'the war until tho end of the present year, and there nro even people who think that the war will not reach its second anniversary, August 2. Although hitherto food has been plentiful for tho supply of the Army tho authorities had perforce some six or seven weeks ago to curtail. rations.

So far this lias not been acutely felt in the firing lines—tho real fighting lines—but it has been moro severely felt by those in tho reserves. Meat has become a scarce commodity, only one piece being obtainable now and then, besides which the troops do not get sufficient bread. Besides receiving a loaf ' weighing three-quarters of a pound daily, they used to be allowed to purchase half a loaf every week, but this is no longer allowed.

The article goes on to say thai oven if tlio menu is not tho same for all the German armies, the above show 3 the true state of tho conditions under which the soldiers live in tho field. But these conditions,, however, have u}> to quite recently been mitigated by many soldiers receiving parcels of food from their, homes. It is now reported, however, that the sending of these parcels is prohibited. This is probably because- their homes should not be 1 deprived of the food that their own people want for consumption. _ As. an inevitable consequence tho physique of the soldiers has been weakened, and despite the fact that they return home on leave sunburnt and looking apparently in good health, they are insufficiently fed, -as they state themselves, and they will not bo able to continue under such conditions even, though they make up for what they lack in the! field when they arc home on furlough. A DECIDING FACTOR.. It will be ■ lack of food which will decide the. war. Troops, guns, and ammunition —Germany has been able to command an abundant supply of these, but- they have suffered dreadful losses, ;and it looks as though , the}* are coming to the end, of their reserves if they do not call men over fortyfive years of age to the colours. It, is expected that further great yictories will be achieved in the future on the Eastern'front, so that it _ will again be possible to-transfer .considerable forces of' troops to tho Western front. .

There are others, however, who maintain that the transfer of troops has already taken" place, and that a. strong German-offensive on the Western front is imminent. It is learned from a reliable source that the manifest improvement in the, Russian command which has been "due to the arrival of French officers, will demand extraordinarily great efforts being made by the Germans if they are to add to their victories.

Moreover, the Russians, aro now, it is stated; /in possession of sufficient material, whilst the Germans are suffering from want of horses, with the. result that they have been forced to reduce their teams to four horses per gun and two horses per ammunition car. Notwithstanding the shortage of foodstuffs and the great diminution of their troops, an abundant supply of arms is still to be had, and a largo number of divisions have lately had their guns and sidearms replaced by new ones. They have incredible quantities of ammunition; which, is steadily being improved—i.e., the effect of ' their explosives both as regards shells and aircraft bombs, is greater than ever. In this respect, as in' so many others, the Germans have shown admirable energy and ingenuity. The want of certain things is not felt in the field, although it is in the homes. BRASS KETTLES AND STOVEDOORS.

In many places immense loads of all kinds of old copper, brass kettles, stovedoors and wind instruments are to bo met with . 011 their way to military depots to be transformed into ammunition. . At the same time, it is extremely palpable that' Germany's adversaries are getting stronger every day. and are effecting similar improvements. In this connection it is reported from the Yser Canal that the big guns of the warships are doing terrible havoc with their " demi-ironclad" shells, - which tear up whole trenches, while such the effect .of the explosions that holes eighty metres long and forty metres deep have been dug up. Although it may not be realised, thero has for some time past been a relaxation of discipline in the German army. Many men have deserted, and there have been desertions of officers as well as men of the Imperial Guard. With the object of stopping this state of things discipline has been made even more rigorous. Hard drills and many other forms of punishment have been introduced. . From the various fronts reports are being received that the soldiers are becoming advanced Socialists and Freethinkers. It will be very difficult to get these men when they return home to settle down to peaceful occupations. There is a fear of peace, the peace iwhich is to end this terrible war. THE FOOD CONTROL. AMSTERDAM. May 23. Great satisfaction is felt in southern Germany with the appointment of a dictator for controlling the food supply. It is contended that the new regulations are being made at the expense of the southern German States, which, it is said, were taken in Northern Germany some time ago. Prussia will now get the advantage, and in "Wurtcmberg. where bitter feeling prevails, the measure is considered' tcTbe another illustration of Prussian influence. • At a meeting of the Stuttgart Town Council very strong protests wore made, and not until the burgomaster gave an assuraiico that the Congress of the Towns Administration would lake the matter up was the temper of the critics appeased.—Central News. SOAP AND BEER. According to the " Flensburg Avis,'' the Chamber of Commerce of Flensburg has petitioned the General Commanding in Schleswig-ITolstcin to prohibit all hotels and restaurants in the province from supplying their gnosis with table napkins owiny to the scarcity of soap. The petition is supported by the Hotel keepers' Federation of the ' province. The newspaper adds that beer js now so scarce in Schleswig I-lolstcin that the majority of the restaurants are only serving it in haltmeasures between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.