Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-19

out that france lost 20 per cent OF its
meat animal stock by the occupation
of 10 departments of the Germans.
France lost through this 100000
horned cattle, 14,S04,31O sheep and S14,-
919 pigs. This means, says the periodi-
cal, that France is deprived of an an
nual meat production Of 411,000 tons
The live stock of Belgium also was
lost by the entente, this being estimat-
ed to amount to about 100000 heads
of cattle, 100000 sheep and over q
100000 pigs. Germany gained thus the
meat production of roundly 39,0O0,00O
animals in the western theatre alone
Though the Russians saved much OF
their live stock in Poland and the in
vaded Russian provinces, nearly 40
100000 meat animals fell in the hands
of the Germans and Austro-Hungar-
Cans. Against this must be charged the
losses sustained by the central powers
in Galicia and East Prussia, said to
amount to about 100000 heads, be-
cause in East Prussia much of the
stock was driven off beforehand, while
| the Galician live stock had already
been drawn on heavily by the Austro-
Hungarian troops
The live stock found in Serbia is es-
| timated at about 100000 heads OF
meat animals, so that the central pow
ers have in their favor balance OF
oh 0nn mil lc This N c
meat production of roundly 100000
| tons per year.
This cannot be looked upon as an in
crease altogether of the central pow
ers' food supply. In the territories
from which this live stock comes lives
a population of about $4,000, 900, whose
wants must be met, of course. Never
theless, the meat production of the ter
ritories occupied by the German and
Hungarian troops being some
IS, 21S. 100000 pounds annually, which
is 1902 pounds per capita, a large
surplus is left for the occupying troops
A daily meat ration of eight ounces for
each inhabitant of the districts held
would place at the disposal of the Ger
mans and Austro-Hungarians 20700,-
100000 pounds per year. Even in view
of the fact that the meat consumption
Of the central powers armies is 45G
pounds for each man year, this guam
fifty would go far towards maintaining
the men in the field.
ND fotc n q rH IN
get at present in the central powers
countries may be hard to understand
in the light of these conditions. But
the following explanation of this fact
is given here. Pork has been the ia
vorite meat Of the men at the front
owing to its heat-producing qualities
and in addition, last year, when the
grain and potato crops of the centra
empires were decidedly poor, too many
pigs were butchered in order to lesser
the demand for feed.
| Before the outbreak of the war, the
live stock Of Europe, the Balkan states
and the Ottoman empire not included
stood as follows:
| Entente states-76,632,9 cattle
104, 6O4 1862 sheep. 3O,0O3,912 pigs.
| Central ,746,912 cattle, 49,,
5s6,399 sheep, 36,446,391 pigs.
Neutral states-107, 506,0OS cattle
1S4,273,S72 sheep, 81, $685. S4 pigs.
Entente states which are least favor
ably situated in their meat supply com
ing from home production are Grea
Britain and Italy. The annual pei
capita consumption in Great Britain i:
about $50 pounds. Of this 60 per cen
| has to be imported. A table recent!
compiled by the we'll known Italian
economist, Ferretti, shows that Italy
has already used one-half Of its horned
cattle to feed its army.
Russia is probably best off in thi:
respect, though heavy demands on it
meat production have also been made
To feed its army, estimated at eigh
million men under aims, took during
the first war year no less than 100000,
900 heads of meat animals.
| France, in addition to having lost +;
| considerable share Of meat animals, il
obliged to feed about three million ref
ugees from the occupied department.
and Belgium. Russia has to care sim
ilarly for over six million refugees.
Between the average normal mea
consumption OF the nations at war
ranging from 10 to $50 pounds pc
i L r.f M
by some 25.O00.000 men under arms
running from go and go pounds pc
man, in the Italian and French armies
respectively, and reaching 456 pound
per man In the German. Austro-Hun
garian and Russian armies, there Is
difference of roughly 3,450.000 tons
According to French economists
takes 100000 animals to produc
L this annually