worse, the whole vast machine of rationing by ticket was based on the expectation of a comparatively quick and decisive victory for Germany.  This led to reckless consumption and a great rise in prices.  The fight that is now going on between the masses in the towns and the wealthy land-owning farmers has been denounced in public by food dictator Batocki (pronounced Batoski), who, in words almost of despair, complained of the selfish landed proprietor, who would only disgorge to the suffering millions in the great manufacturing centres at a price greatly exceeding that fixed by the food authorities.

All manner of earnest public men are endeavouring to cope with the coming distress, and at this point I can do no better than quote from an interview given me by Dr. Sudekum, Social Democratic member of the Reichstag for Nuremberg, Bavaria.  He is a sincere patriot, and a prominent worker in food organisation.

“More than a year ago,” he explained, “I worked out a plan for the distribution of food, which provided for uniform food-cards throughout the entire empire.  For example, everyone, whether he lived in a Bavarian village or in a Prussian city, would receive, say, half a pound of meat a week.  I presented my plan to the Government, with whose approval it met.  Nevertheless, they did not see fit to adopt it for three reasons.  In the first place because they believed that the people might become unnecessarily alarmed.  Secondly, because our enemies might make capital out of such measures. Thirdly, because our leaders at that time believed that the war might be over before the end of 1915.

“But the war dragged on, and we were somewhat extravagant with our supplies—­I except bread, for which we introduced cards in February, 1915—­and instead of the whole Empire husbanding the distribution of meat, for example, various sections here and there introduced purely local measures, with the inevitable resulting confusion.

“Hunger has been a cause of revolution in the past,” Dr. Sudekum continued thoughtfully.  “We should take lessons from history, and do everything in our power to provide for the poor.  I have worked hard in the development of the ‘People’s Kitchens’ in Berlin.  We started in the suburbs early in 1916, in some great central kitchens in which we cook a nourishing meat and vegetable stew.  From these kitchens distributing vehicles—­Gulasch-kanonen (stew cannons) as they are jocularly called—­are sent through, the city, and from them one may purchase enough for a meal at less than the cost of production.  We have added a new central kitchen each week until we now have 30, each of which supplies 10,000 people a day with a meal, or, more correctly, a meal and a half.  In July, however, the work assumed greater proportions, for the municipal authorities also created great central kitchens.  Most of the dinners are taken to the homes and eaten there.

“The People’s Kitchen idea is now spreading throughout Germany.  But I believe in going further, I believe in putting every German—­I make no exception—­upon rations.  That is what is done in a besieged city, and our position is sufficiently analogous to a besieged city to warrant the same measures.  All our food would then be available for equal distribution, and each person would get his allowance.”