The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-13

as the law provides for. His press agent in giving out particulars this week mentions the names of many distinguished men who have agreed to serve under the colonel. One of the noteworthy features of Colonel Roose- velt's plan, now before the department, is that he would have his division ready for the field within thirty days from the time the call for volunteers might be issued. This would be in deed great record. Nobody but the colonel would attempt it, but he has been working hard on plans and feels absolutely sure that he could come up to expectations.
 Secretary Baker has manifested much interest in Colonel Roosevelt's offer, but the doughty Rough Rider" is probably doomed to disappointment. As the situation looks now there is no likelihood of the United States and Mexico engaging in war.
 r HE fact that the Berlin govern \ ment has adopted regulations for a reduction in the allowance to holders of potato and meat tickets does not indicate that Prussia is fac ing a famine. It is only another evil
 dence of German Berlin's Case forethought. Tn of Food Supply making Prussia's
 food supplies go farther than would be deemed worth while under normal conditions the au- thorities are providing against possi- ble contingencies. There is a potato shortage in the Berlin district and as result card holders are to receive OHly CWO pOuluo ol POIotOOo c "SSA instead of three pounds, as formerly; but as a compensation they will be allowed an increase of fourteen ounces in flour allotment.
 There is to be small reduction in meat allowance, but small though it be, it will probably cause greater self denial on the part of the Berlin popu- lation than the curtailment in the po- tato allowance. According to statis- tics the Germans are the greatest meat eaters in the world, and now that families have been cut down more than 50 per cent in beef allowance since the war started they begin to imagine it a real hardship. They gladly practice self-denial, however, and get along with comparatively scant diet for the love of fatherland.
 A fault with people in all countries where provision houses are usually we'll filled is that they eat too much. Germans who have been brought up on a heavy meat diet now find that they cannot only do with less when an emergency intervenes, but that they thrive on it.
 Assuming that the war is to con- tinue until 1917, Germany will still have enough to eat; and no matter how long the conflict lasts, there will be no starvation. The Berlin govern ment's present food allowance policy is the basis for assurance against the fangs of hunger for an indefinite period.
 THE French and English embassies ! are wasting time in trying to show that the Deutschland, which re- gently arrived at Baltimore after a memorable trip across the Atlantic, is a "potential warship." The allies
 diplomats natur- Another Coup for ally want to em- German Efficiency barrass the Ger
 man government as much as possible and this latest ex- ample of German efficiency, a subma- rine merchantmen which set at naught the boasted British blockade, is a rude jolt to their pride.
 However, there are no grounds for the contention they make. A subma- rine without torpedo tubes and with out emplacements for guns is no more a potential warship" than any other kind of freight or passenger vessel. In fact, it would probably be easier to make converted cruiser out of any ocean liner than it would be to change the peaceful character of the Deutsch- land.
 Federal investigators have found no cause to suspect that the submarine is anything other than it pretends to be. To equip it for fighting purposes would require that the vessel be all most entirely built over.
 It evidently sticks in the craw of thn astaopnad alias b11t thau can't