The Washington herald., 1916-11-16
FOOD SHORTAGE
MENACES ALLIES
Great Britain Admits Effect
iveness of Blockade.

CBy the InternsfienaI News servt.a)
London, Nov. l5.-For the frst time
since the outbreak Of the war the msnaes
of food shortage. hitherto only vaguely
alluded 70. has loomed up tn all earnest
in the three leading entente nations
England. Russia and Franco As II by a
given signal. the governments Of each
simultaneously cast on all sentimentRIity
and fear OF what Will the people think7''
firmly faced the issue and set about
taking such measures as were publicly
conceded 70 be imperative lest hunger
lose the war for the allies.
In the British parliament Walter Run
ciman, president OF the Board Of Trade,
spoke out, upon pre-arrangement with
the government, what everybody has been
whispering for months: That the German
U-boat campaign has cut deep into the
network of maritime facilities by which
Britain brings foodstuffs to her shores
from all parts Of the world, and that
drastic measures are necessary TO re-
establish the severed lines Of supply and
TO regulate the food consumption ~
home.
Food Dictator Predicted.
dicted after his speech as the inevitable
medium Of translating his words into
action
In the Russian Duma the budget COM
mittee urged immediate assumption by
the government of complete control of
the food distribution and food prices.
In France, the public was serni-oniciaI-
ly prepared for q government decree
usherfng In rigid war economics in an ef-
fort to compel the saving of coal, light,
and provisions.
President Runcirnan's speech was made
In the course OF a general discussion Of
the food problem in the house OF COM
mons, precipitated by a resolution intro
duced by William Hewins UnioniFt mem
Ser from Hereford. putting the house on
record as considering IL the duty Of the
government ito adopt further methods
OF organization TO Increase and con
serve the national food supply and 20 d.
minish the risk of shortage and serious
increase OF prices in the event OF the war
being prolonged"
The debate which followed the resolu-
ton was welcomed by the government
Questions. which had they been asked
three months ago. would have met with
the usual government reply that Il was
mot in the interest of the nation 60 dis
cuss them. were today freely debated.
No Bnert st COBceaIneat.
There was no effort to conceal the fart
that IL England today suffers from exor-
bitant food prices and faces a serious
shortage, II is due solely to the German
submarine campaign.
Lord Charles Beresford and Baron s,.-
denhan, leading the debate on this sub
tect, cited facts and figures TO remove all
doubts on the point, and President Runci-
man. taking the constructive view OF tho
matter, eInphaticaIly urged the immediate
pooling Of Britain's engineering resources
70 bring the British merchan. feet hack
to its 2re-wor strength, or as nearly 10 Il
as possible.
Sweeping measures giving the govern
ment fun power TO deal with The situa-
ton. both as regards the shipping prob
lem and the resultant food ~risis. are
looked for tomorrow. II was regarded a
most probable that an ur5eT-in-cOunciI
would be announced making such steps
possible.
Sugar. potatoes -four. and milk are the
chief products figuring m the food situa-
tion. Drastic steps are expected to be
taken to control their distribution aud
their prices. He fayed those taking ad-
vantage OF the national crisis and pointed
| 20 the necessity Of a governmental check
of the evil.
The decree to he issued by the French
government, probably tomorrow. viii in
vest a national supervising body with
VIDE powCrs to stay waste and eNtiava-
csnce.