Mountain advocate., 1915-01-08

replace them. The insurance at Lloyd's
had risen to a figure which made the
price OF food prohibitive to the mass
Of tue people by the time II had reach
ed the market The loaf which uuder
ordinary circumstances stood at i've
pence, was already at one aud two
pence. Beef was shillings and four
pence a pound aud mutton 2 shillinss
aud nuepcnce Eyery thing else was
In proportion. The government had
acted with energy and offered big
bounty for corn to be planted at once.
Ii could only he rsaped dive mouths
hence. however. and long before then.
as the papers pointed out, half the IL
land would he dead from starvation.
strong appeals had been made to the
patriotism OF the people, and they
were assured that the Interference with
trade was temporary aud that with a
little patience all would be well. But
already there was a marked rise in the
death rate. especially among children.
who sut'ert. from want OF uilk, the
cattle being slaughtered for food
There was serious uotiug Ia tne Ian.
AYRSHIRE coal fields aud In the mid
lands, together with socialistiC up.
heaval in the east Of London. which
had assumed the proportions " civil
war Alr.'dy there were responsible
papers which declared that England
was in an impossible position ,..l that
an Immediate peace was necessary to
prevent one of the greatest tragedies
in history. lt was NY task now to
prove to them that they We're right.
II was May when | found myself
back at the Nallu sands, TO the north
OF the estuary OF the Thames The
Beta was Stut on 10 the Solent to block
it and take the place OF tue iamenteG
Kappa AMI now ! was thrott'iuC
Britain indeed London Southamp
ton, the Bristol ohauuel. Liverpool. the
North channel tln glasgow approach
es-each WIS "wyipd by my boats
Great liners wee. as We learned after.
ward pouring their supplies into Gal
way and the west Of Ireland. where
provisions were cheaper than bad ever
been known Tens OF thousands Were
embarkiug from Britain for Ireland IN
order TO save themselves from starva-
ton. But YOU cannot transplant a
whole dense population The main
body of the people 10y the middle Of
May was actually starving At that
date wheat WAS at 100. maize and bar.
ley at 50 Even the most obstinate
had begun 10 see that the situation
could not possibly continue.
In the great towns starving crowds
clamored for bread before the munici
pal offices ami public officials every
where were attacked and often muir
dered 10y frantic m0bs composed large
ly of desperate women who had seen
their infants perish before their eyes.
In the country roots bark and weeds
of every sort were used as food In
London the private mansions Of min
listers were guarded hy strong pickets
of soldiers. while battalion of guards
was camped permanently round the
houses Of parliament. The lives Of the
prime minister and of the foreign sec
Rotary were continually threatened and
occasionally attempted Yet the gov
ernmeul had entered upou the war
with the fun assent Of every party I'm
the state. The true culpritS We're
those, be they politicians or Journalists.
who had not the foresight 10 under
stand that unless Britain grew her
own supplies or unless by means Of a
tunnel she had some way of convey
ing them into the island all her mighty
expenditure upon her army and bel
feet was q mere waste of money 80
long as her antagonist had few sub
marine and men who could use them.
England has often been stupid, but has
got of scot free
This time she was stupid and had 10
pay the price. You can't expect luck
to be your savior always.