" DEMORALISED GERMANY "
Stg,—Some figures quoted by me in the article Demoralised Germany which appeared in The Spectator last week may give rise to some mis- apprehension. The nutritional surveys to which I referred embrace a period before the issued ration fell to 1,000 calories. It is therefore not true to suggest that the average German is receiving 600 or 700 calories over and above his ration. Some supplement is undoubtedly consumed, but it is impossible to say how much this amounts to. It is also impossible to say how much of it comes from the black market, as particularly at this time of year gardens and allotments provide legitimate supplements to the official ration. The point that I wish to make, however, remains unaltered—namely that a very large number of normal law-abiding citizens in Germany today are forced on to the black market in order to keep themselves and their families alive.—Yours truly, Thriplow Farm, Thriplow, Cambs. H. D. WALSTON. [This article was by inadvertence published before its author had had an opportunity to revise it—ED., The Spectator.]
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