Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-04
FAMINE FATE OF
MEXICANS UNLESS
WORLO GIVES AID
Shortage Of Corn Throughout Re-
public Will Make Nation De-
pendent on Charity, For
eigners Declare.
REPORT OF INVESTIGATORS
Committee Of Americans and Other
Aliens Tell of Frightful
Conditions.
RESULT OF BANDIT WARFARE


MEXICO CITY, March 25.-(By
Courier to Ell Paso.) April "a
report predicting that Mexico faces
a serious situation respecting its
food supplies has been made by a
committee of Americans and other
foreigners here who have been in
vestigating the situation. 1he re-
port in part is as follows
-Four years of almost continuous
fighting throughout the various parts
of the republic has produced condi-
tion of affairs in the food supplies
situation so serious so as to threaten
famine OF such proportions as to
neoessitate worldwide aid
Shortage of Corn.
The fact that farm hands nave
everywhere been thrown into so-called
armies, that farm animals have been
utilized for like purposes. that leaders OF
rowing bands marching under banners
containing fantastic legends about liberty
and the rights of man. which they use as
A blind TO facilitate robbery. pillage and
mnTuer, nave 50 TtuhNN0 1AN Ivy
age that by November 1915, there will be
shortage of $4,000 bushels of corn
alone. not to mention the other abso-
lutely necessary cereals, are now we'll
known TO those investigating, who have
made a careful study of this phase OF
Mexico's ills
"That the effects of this wanton do
struction are only just beginning to be
felt is due TO the great productive riches
of Mexico's agricultural regions, where,
It's said the farmer has but TO scratch
the soil and drop his seed while God and
sunshine do the rest But self-seeking
and self-sppointed military leaders have
for so long a time prevented the farm
crs even scratching the soil over so
sreat an acreage that Mexico is about
to reap the whiriwind 1t has sown.
stat roc Life tn Mexico.
Corn Is the staff OF life In Mexico,
as wheat or its products in other coun-
tries. The harvest of this cereal for the
.rresent should begin about the first OF
November, that is. eight months from the
date OF this writing o fthis report. Upon
investigation we find that but five states
Of Mexicos twenty-seven have a suffi-
cient supply to carry them over this
period. m
"Oxaca Morelos. Campeche, Tabasco
and Chipas probably have enough corn
to last them eight months II the strict
est economy Is employed in using that
staple.
This will take care of population
of 100000. Yucatan with a, population
Of $4,000 produces no corn, but has the
money to buy It in the United States
This leaves the rest Of Mexico with a
900, 000population Of approximately 49,
100000 with a visible supply of approxi-
mately $4,000 tons. enough TO last but
three months. About next July, then
the real pinch of hunger viii be felt
Throughout the length and breadth of
Mexico.
Must He Bought.
What then will be necessary to re-
ueve the consequent distress and prevent
perhaps. the death of thousands from
starvation? In normal times it requires
l.s00,OOO tons of corn to feed these 1S.-
10000 over a period OF eight months
With the visible supply but $4,000 tons,
this leaves shortage of 1,18.OOO tons, or
$4,000 bushels. This corn must be pur-
chased from the United States. The
present market price laid down at points
along the northern frontier Is 70 cents
gold bushel. If we allow Is cents gold
a bushel for distribution cost throughout
the various parts of the republic we
have charge of s1.05 gold per bushel
for distribution cost throughout the w.
rious parts of the republic, which will
necessitate the expenditure of s41. .s4s,75O
gold TO prevent a devastating famine.
BY that time the purchasing power of
the Mexican peso viii have dropped to
10 cents gold. so. due TO the uneonscion-
able. ignorant and selfish attitude of the
military elements OF all factions, Mexico
will find herself called upon TO expend
41s.4s7.5 500 pesos TO prevent the larger part
OF her population from starving to
death.
Where is this money to come from? ?
With a bottom price-scraped treasury