, 1916-11-18

contracts Ill order to IllAIt the price. Mr.
Runciman in opening his speech admitted
that the time had arrived when the Govern
ment must regard the question of food
supplies as a war problem, declaring that
the strain the country would have to bear
next year would be mainly in connection
with the food supply. He was only able
to express the sue and certain hope that
however tragic it might be, the strain would
be more severe in Germany and Austria.
De.iing with the wheat question, Mr.. Runci-
man said the Government ha taken full
advantage of the abundant harvasts of Cana.
du and Australia, which had b9en augmen-
ted by an enormous productio l in the Uni
ted States, but that next year the country
would have to depend to u la ge extent on
Australia. Arrangements with Australia,
he added, was rather u question OF stImu-
lating, not production, but transport. AL
rendy a large block of tonnage had been
requisitioued and was on it's way to Aus
traiia, Ar. Runciman continued. The trans
p,rt difficulty had been enchanced by
the need of coming to the assistance
OF France and Italy, but the Government
had taken the right step in regarding that
the whole of the Entente Allied wheat ship
ment should be dealt with by one REQUEST
toned feet. He emphasized the importance
Oh transport dnQ IuO hOSOluL0 u0CGbSlGy VI
shipping being regarded as serving the
national interests when it was conveying
food to the Kingdom, Mr.. Runciman also
referred to the constant dit hculty and anx-
iety of satisfying in this respect the conflict
ing interests of the naval and the merchant
service, especially considering the fact that
Great Britain WAS called upon to provide not
only for it's own needs, but those of her
Allies. He saw no reason why at the end
of this year the production of shipping for
the preceding six months should not APP
proach five hundred thousand tons. An
nourcing that he was making arrangements
for a pooling of engineering forts on the
Tyne and elsewhere, Mr.. Rune nan said hat
the Government must make the plunge IN
this matter for the provision of more Mer-
chant ships was now urgent. Announcing the
intention of the Government to prevent
growers from making undue profits from the
sale of potatoes, he said the question of dis
penaing with some articles of food was un-
der consideration and in this Connection, he
mentioned elaborate aud costly confection-
airy concerning which II committee Of the
ROYAL Society had been advising the Board
of Trade.
London, November 16'h.-The Greek
steamer Barbara and the Norwegian stenm-
ship Locker are reported to have been sunk
The Barbara 1881 tons gross sailed from
Barry, November 8th. for ST. Johns N. F.
The l. ,kken l 1854 tons gross was last report
ed in the Tyne on October 25th.
Sofia, November 16th.-The retreat OF
the German and Bulgarian forces in the
Cerna bend under the assaults, of the
Serblans is admitted in the off" ial statement
issued by the War Office today. Accord
ing to the statement the BulgariaLs
have fallen back on a line from four
to six miles west of Ivan, the last
town west OF the Cerna reported captured
by the Serbians.
Ottawa, Nov. 15th-Oanadian casualties
to date show that 9,457 have been killed in
action, BAIT died Of wounds, and 1912 are
missing. There have been over $4,000 ca
sullIies reported. The prisoners are not
included in the above. The lumber of the
deaths from sickness was 400. OF missing
1927 are presumed dead.
Paris, Nov. 1~6lh-Freuch and Russian
troops on the Macedonian front are now
wi, hin four miles OF M,nastir, it was announ-
ced officially. The War Office says that the
pursuit of the defeated Bulgari ms continues.
Gu the eastern end of the liue the British
troops have again assumed thu offensive in