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The Iron Ration

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The Iron Ration

[Illustration: Photograph from Henry Ruschin

The Iron Ration

AUSTRIAN SOLDIER IN CARPATHIANS GIVING HUNGRY YOUNGSTER SOMETHING TO EAT

Moved by the misery of the civilian population the soldiers will often share their rations with them. An Austrian soldier in this case shares his food with a boy in a small town in the Carpathian Mountains, Hungary.]

Harper & Brothers Publishers New York and London

Copyright, 1918, by Harper & Brothers Printed in the United States of America Published February, 1918

TO MY FRIEND DR. JEROME STONBOROUGH MAN--SCHOLAR--PHILANTHROPIST

I WAR HITS THE LARDER OF GERMANY 1 II WHEN LORD MARS HAD RULED THREE MONTHS 22 III THE MIGHTY WAR PURVEYOR 34 IV FAMINE COMES TO STAY 56 V THE FOOD SHARK AND HIS WAYS 70 VI THE HOARDERS 93 VII IN THE HUMAN SHAMBLES 115 VIII PATRIOTISM AND A CRAVING STOMACH 131 IX SUB-SUBSTITUTING THE SUBSTITUTE 144 X THE CRUMBS 161 XI MOBILIZING THE PENNIES 173 XII SHORTAGE SUPREME 195 XIII "GIVE US BREAD!" 213 XIV SUBSISTING AT THE PUBLIC CRIB 245 XV THE WEAR AND TEAR OF WAR 265 XVI THE ARMY TILLS 275 XVII WOMAN AND LABOR IN WAR 293 XVIII WAR AND MASS PSYCHOLOGY 305 XIX SEX MORALITY AND WAR 325 XX WAR LOANS AND ECONOMY 353 XXI THE AFTERMATH 368

AUSTRIAN SOLDIER IN CARPATHIANS GIVING HUNGRY YOUNGSTER SOMETHING TO EAT _Frontispiece_

PROVING-GROUND OF THE KRUPP WORKS AT ESSEN _Facing p._ 30

A LEVY OF FARMER BOYS OFF FOR THE BARRACKS " 66

STREET SCENE AT EISENBACH, SOUTHERN GERMANY " 96

"The Iron Ration" is the name for the food the soldier carries in his "pack" when in the field. It may be eaten only when the commanding officer deems this necessary and wise. When the iron ration is released, no command that the soldier should eat is necessary. He is hungry then--famished. Usually by that time he has been on half, third, and quarter ration. The iron ration is the last food in sight. There may be more to-morrow. But that is not the motive of the commander for releasing the food. What he has to deal with is the fact that his men are on the verge of exhaustion.