Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-28
AMERICA MUST ACT
. QUICKLY IF WORLD
IS TO BE SAVED.
Food Situation Stressed by
British and French
Missions.
ENERGETIC MEASURES
OF RELIEF NECESSARY
Problem Occupies Cabinet Meet
ing Almost to Exclusion of
Other Questions.
SUBMARINE MEN, ACE GROWS
Campaign to Rreali Down Blockade
Comes Into Forefront Of United
States War Program.
SUBMARINE MENACE GROWS
Campaign to Rreak Down Blockade
Comes Into Forefront Of United
States War Program.

WASIliNGTON. April .7-Evidence
Of growing success for tho ruthless
German submarin" bl"okadc has forced
tho problem Of supplying tho entente
quickly with food and other necessities
sharply into tho forefront Of the Amer-
lean governments war program
Aroused by information brought to
this country by tho British and French
war missions. President Wilson and his
Cabinet set about to-day to launch
with its full force as speedily as pos
Siblc their campaign Ia break down
the blockade. planned by the admin
istration as tho nations first physical:
stroke against Germany.
Tho food problem occupied the Cab
met meeting almost to the exclusion
Of the other important questions be-
fore the government. Afterward it was
indicated that the recent German sub
marine ravagcs were considered so
successful that the United States must
marshal its resources Immediately to
put more merchant ships in commits
sion. to help devise some means OF
fighting submarines and to insure a
greater yield of foodstuns TO Offset the
increa sing destruction of food. carEoes
i'm the war zones
QUANTITY Or INFORMATION
GIVEN BY VISITING: MISSIONS;
Members of tho cabinet took to tho,
meeting Il great quantity of informa-
tion given by tho visiting missions
including plea by some members OF
the French comm sSion that America
must act quickly if tho world is to he
saved from famine. Recent declara-
! tions in the British Parliament were
reviewed as supplemcnting this cvi-s
dcncc. There was no attempt to con-.
ccai tho impression that tho food prob
lcm had taken on an aspect making
| il incomparably tho most pre-: sing
question facing tho United states in
its efforts to stem the progress of its
enemy
There were indications Tonight that
more en"rgcti" measures might be ex-.
pected to speed up the work of relieving.
tho food shortage i'm tho entente coun-s
tries. These measures it was pres
dicted. would be the first TO take form
as result OF the international war.
conferences here.
Ac"clcration OF tho ShippinE Boards
program for Il great ncct OF wooden
ships to carry foodstuns is regarded
as certain.
To increase tho transa tlantic tonna sc.
tho board is striving 10 put the Ger
man and Austrian ships into service
as quickly as possible. and the trans
fer To foreign trade of as many as
nr'"t,c"hl" of the roastwi&c and Great
Lakes steamers. (.
EARLY tcTroS on rOnD
LEGISI.AT!nN FORtsCAST'
Early action on food control legisla-
ton !" forecast.
What The rpry will 10 directly to
""inhnt The Submnrinc mcuarc has not
h""r fnilN developed. but il is known.
/ t'iat Secretary Daniels is planning fur
ih"r conferences with shipbuilders to
/ S""cd ur the construction of destroy-
"rS. the tyne Of naval vessel generally
regarded as most effective against
undcrsea craft. 1t is known also that
American naval experts. in their con-
! ''f"nc"S with the Visiting officers Of
~" H:'tish aud French navics. are con-
S'u"r'hG various prou"Sais for Amcr-
'"an r"-"ncration in developing means
10 hight the submarine