The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-02-11


white was whiting nut ! gathered
the news aftei we got under way. Tue
British occupird al our ports. but 9th
erwtse we had not suffered at al.
since we have excellent railway com.
munications with EUROPE. Prices had
altered little. aad our industries con
tinued as before. There was talk OF q
British invasion. but this I knew to be-
absolute nonseuse, for the British must
have learned by this time that n would
be sheer murder to send transports full
OF soldiers to sea In the face OF sub.
marines. When they have tunnel
they can use their fine expeditionary
force upon the continent. but until
then II might just rs well not exist so
far as Europe Is concerned. My own
country. therefore. was In good care
and had nothing TO fear Great Brit.
ain. however. was already feeling my
grip upon her throat Az in normal
times four6fths OF her food Is I'm.
ported. prices were rising by leaps ana
bounds The supplies In the country
were beginning to show signs OF de
pietion. while little was coming In 40
replace them. The insurance at Lloyds
had risen to a figure which made the
price Of food prohibitive to the mass
OF the people by the time IL had reach.
ed the market The loaf. which under
ordinary circumstances stood at Ave
pence, was already at one and two
pence. Beef was 3 shillings and four.
pence a pound and mutton = shillings
and ninepence. Everything else was
In proportion. The government had
acted with energy and offered a big
bounty for corn to be planted at once.
II could only be reaped Ave months
hence, however, and long before then.
rs the papers pointed out. half the is
land would be 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 and that with a
little patience all would be we'll But
already there was marked rise In the |
Heath rate, especially among children,
who suffered from want OF milk, the
,attle being slaughtered for food.
There was serious rioting In the Ian
lrkshire coal fields and In the mid
ands. together with a socialistic up
leaval In the east OF London, which
lad assumed the proportions OF a civil
var. Already there were responsible
'apers which declared that England
vas In an impossible position and that
n immediate peace was necessary TO
reyent one OF the greatest tragedies
n history. IL was my task now to
rove to them that they were right.
IL was May ? when I found myself
ack at the Maplin sands, to the north
the estuary OF the Thames The
'eta was sent on to the Solent to block
and take the place OF the lamented
Iappa. And now I was throttling
ritain indeed London, Southamp-
IN. the Bristol channel. Liverpool. the
orth channel. the Glasgow approach
leach was guarded by my boats.
reat liners were. as we learned after.
ard. pouring their supplies into Gal
ny and the west OF Ireland. where
DIVISIONS were cheaper than had ever
zen known. Tens OF thousands were
from Britain for Ireland I'm
der to save themselves from starva-
On. But you cannot transplant a
hole dense population. The main
'dy OF the people by the middle OF {
ay was actually starving. At that !
tie wheat was at 100, maize and bar !
= at 80 Even the most obstinate q
ID begun to see that the situation I
uld not possibly continue.
In the great towns starving crowds \
imored for bread before the munich !
offices. and public officials every
here were attacked and often muir. y
red by frantic mobs. composed large
or desperate women who had seen
eir infants perish before their eyes. .
the country roots, bark and weeds
every sort were used as food. In
ndon the private mansions OF min
ers were guarded by strong pickets =
soldiers. while a battalion OF guards !.
IS camped permanently round the y
uses OF parliament. The lives OF the =
me minister and OF the foreign sec y
airy were continually threatened and ..
'asionally attempted Yet the gov .
Iment had entered upon the war
ID the full assent OF every party in
state. The true culprits were
se. be they politicians or Journalists,
% had not the foresight to under u
nd that unless Britain grew her OF
n supplies or unless by means Of n o.
mel she had some way OF convey ~
them into the island all her mighty 10
'enditure upon her army and her ~
I was mere waste of money 80 '"
3 as her antagonist had few sub a.,
rines and men who could use them. ~
gland has often been stupid. but has ~ =.
on scot free. ~
his time she was stupid and had to ~
the price. You can't expect luck -
NJ VOur saViOr aIwaya -