The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-23
ENGLISH PARKS
TO BE FARMS
Are Being Ploughed and
Turned Into PrOduc-
i tive Fields.
DRASTIC ORDERS ARE
SOON TO BE ISSUED
Food Controller Ready for
War Against German
Starvation Plan.
Special Cable Despatch 10 Tur Sex

Spec'd tdbfe Despdtch 10 TBE SCN.
LONDON. Jan. 22.-The correspondent
OF THE Sun learns upon the highest au-
thority that the British Government has
taken steps to meet Germany's threats
IT, throw the island kingdom into the
same starving condition as Germany by
submarine campaign.
Three Government departments are
working in closest cooperation to this
end, and are prepared to announce be-
fore the end Of this week the plan for
revolutionary methods of feeding Eng
land with home grown foodstuffs. These
departments are the Director OF Ma
tional Service, the Agricultural Secre-
tnry and the Food Controller.
The first and most important action
will be taken by Neville Chamberlain,
the Director Of National Service, who
will announce within few days the
classification OF all industries into es-
sential and non-essential classes. Work.
ers from the non-essential industries
VIII be enrolled to till the land and be-
come real food producers. This means
that England expects every man and
woman capable of working with a hoe
or doing the lightest farm work to enlist
in a great civilian army.
1t became known to-day that Mr..
Chamberlain had been relieved OF the
hSSScsAty VI vi SduiLfuS tH0 HdLlOU mil
itary forces and will direct his energies
solely toward the civil side and the work
of Transforming consumers into pro-
ducers.
throughout the country women's vol
untary land service corps are organic
ing. The country schools are enlistins
women who are willing to learn farm
work. 1t is estimated that this source
alone will produce 100000 farm hands
Mobility Feature of "Army."
The country 1. being mapped into
| areas, with a labor director in each
Wherever the farmers are unable to till
their arabic soil the labor director will
send him battalion Of the civilian
army. which Is so organized as to be ex.
tremely mobile. It can move rapily
from one county or district TO another
keeping pace with the labor director.
The Department Of Agriculture, work.
ing night and day since Lloyd George be-
carne Premier, has worked out a survey
Of farm conditions In every district con.
| tanning large, unworked tracts of land
| which win be invaded by the civilian
army.
Another feature Of this work is Z
| great educational campaign by which
| the Department is impressing upon tho
| ctlhii Tic Nllat necessity OF
prompt action in starting production
now. before a serious food shortage be
comes inevitable.
Public Parks PIouEhed.
The railroads are offering garden plot.
along their right OF way upon application
to any station master. Wherever posi-
BILE public parks offering suitable soil ar,
ploughcd and planted with early wheat
| A prominent Bishop Of the Church o
England has announced that churcl
lands heretofore beautifed and held a.
parks will be opened as parishioners
gardens.
Moreover. the Food Controller is al
most ready to announce further radica
| reductions in the amount Of food con
sumed. 1t is generally known that tn
existing orders in this respect have no
produced the desired results 30 far a
the consumption OF meat is concerned
Hotels. restaurants and private home
are inclined to evade the restrictions, o
to pay no attention to the rules for a tw
course luncheon and q three course din
ner.
This condition is recognized by tn
Government and a few days will Sc
new orders issued. one Of which will b
undoubtedly the establishment OF on
meatless day a week. with central con
troll of the various districts for meat al
lotments.
Sugar is the only necessity that
really scarce throughout England. Th
threatened shortage of wheat has bee
overcome by the prompt measures Of tn
Government to control Its sale. Th
Controllers orders so far are designe
to cut down the use Of meat sugaI
wheat and milk.