Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-08-24
HOW AMERICA CAN
FEED ITS ALLIES
important Message to People
From Herbert C. Hoover,
Administrator.
WORLD SUPPLIES ESTIMATED
Increased Production, Elimination OF
Waste and Careful Control Of Food
Exports Form the Solution
Of This War Problem.

Washington, Aug. 20.-What the peO-
Die of the United States not only can
but must do in the matter of f0od pro-
ductiOn and use in order to help win
the war is set forth in detail in q
statement issued today by Food Al
ministrator Herbert c. Hoover. If we
fail to do our part in this respect, he
says, the people Of the allies cannot be
maintained at war, for their soldiers
cannot fight without food.
The normal imports Of wheat ana
other cereals by France, Italy, the
United Kingdom and Belgium, and the
estimates Of the 1917 crop in those
countries compared to the normal pro-
duction are given by Mr.. Hoover in
tabulated form, and the conclusion IS
drawn that In order to provide normal
consumption it will be necessary
for them to import in the next II
months 577,000,000 bushels of wheat
and 674,0O0,000 bushels of other cere-
ais. If the crops Of the United States
and Canada all mature safely, North
America will have an apparent sur
plus of POS, 100000 bushels Of wheat
and 95O,OOO,O00 bushels Of other cere'
ais. The allies, therefore, must use
other cereals than wheat for mixing
in their war bread, and the people OF
America must reduce their consump'
tion of wheat -four from five to -four
pounds per week per person.
Decrease In Food Animals.
A careful estimate of the worlds
food animal position shows a total ne
decrease Of 115,005, 900, and this vii
be greater as the war goes on. Al
the increase of herds and flocks takes
wears. we must reduce the consump
tion. eliminate waste and carefully con
troll meat exports.
Our home dairy products supplies
are decreasing, while our population i
Increasing, and we must snip IN
creasing amounts of such products t
our allies. Consequently this indus
try must be stimulated, and nom
users must q v the wastes In milk an
butter. Much the same may be said l
the case of sugar.
Mr.. Hoover urges a greater COZ
! sumption of fish and sea FOODS,
which our coasts and lakes are emo
mouslv rich. The products of the Ian
j he reminds us, are conserved by tn
: eating Of those of the sea.
Our Duty.
In conclusion the food administratt
e says:
have ~endeavored to show In prev
ous articles that the world Is short
food: that Europe Is confronted WI
e the grim specter of starvation unle
@ from our abundance and our waste
h keen the wolf from the door. Not on
l. must we have q proper use of our TO-
o supply in order that we may furni
t our allies with the sinews with VIM
n they may fight II battles, but IT
an act of humanity towards fell'
men, women and children.
IN By the diversion Of millions of m
from production to war, by the oc'
q patton of land by armies, by the Ii
10 latlon of markets, by belligerent lin
"a and bv the destruction of shipping
submarines, not only has the home p
duction Of our allies fallen by .o'
-, 100000 900 bushels of grain, but tt
IRE thrown upon us for a much larl
20 proportion Of their normal imports
NJ merly obtained from other markets.
- They have reduced consumption
every point, but men in the trench
-. men in the shops, and the millions
women placed at physical labor
.~, ouire more food than during pc
~, times, and the incidence Of their say
-. and any shortage which they may
fer. falls first upon women and C
dren. If this privation becomes
great, their peoples cannot be mi
tanned constant in the war, and we
'" be left alone to fight the battle
democracy with Germany.
The problem Of food conservatio
), one of many compilations. We can
and we do not wish, with our free
situations and our large resources
lnu food, to initiate Europe in its pol
%rationing, but we must voluntarily
lntelligently assume the responsib
'ia. before us as one in which ever!
has a direct and unacceptable intel
: = We must increase our export of fl
to the allies, and in the circumsta
Of u shipping situation, these exp
must he Of the most concentr
ne foods. These r wheat, flour,
l pork and dairy products. We have
GO err foods in great abundance which
nef can use instead Of these commodi
fiS. and we can ' event wastes In a t
sand directions. We must guard
We
=.