The Benson signal., 1917-08-25

United States, on Wnlcn tney were dC-
customed to rely before the war. Ihe
Russian supply cannot be got out.
Bulgarian and ROumanian supplies are
in the hands of the central empires.
The voyage from Australia and India
Is three times as long and therefore
requires three times as many tons or
shipping as is required from North AT
lantic ports. 1t is also twice as dan-
gerous because of the longer exposure
to submarine attack. There has been
a large failure in the South American
countries and the new harvest from
that quarter will not be available IN
Europe until next spring. AS already
said, all the allied countries are ana
have been for some time vigorously ad-
ministering and ecOnOmizing their
food. In Belgium, the relief commits
sion has been compelled to reduce the
consumption Of cereals by nearly oO
per cent: this brings the food supply
so low that the population are In
capable of labor
From the above tables it will be
tion the total allied wheat import re-
quirements are 577,OO00OO bushels
against a North American surplus OF
2O8,OOOOOO bushels-and from our
United States supplies we must re-
serve a certain amount for neutrals
from which we receive vital supplies
and also an amount to protect our
stocks better next year than this last.
There is therefore on normal con-
sumption a deficit Of over 4OO,OOOOOo
bushels. In the other cereals used IN
Europe mostly for animal feed the
import necessities of the allies on nor
NAL consumption basis are about 6l4-
900. 900 against North American sur
plus of 95OOO00OO. But again re-
serve for neutrals and increased car
nv oyer'' will absorb all the margin.
In any event it means we must multi
ply our exports of these cereals ~
times. However, upon the basis Of our
present crop prospects we should be
able to supply their requirements IN
cereals other than wheat.
Wheat Situation Difficult.
The situation in wheat is one OF
great difficulty and concern, and must
be met by an elimination of waste and
reduction of consumption on the part
of the allied peoples and ourselves, in
one word. by an effective adminiStra-
ton of the available supply.
The allies are unable to use other
cereals alone for bread. They can
use them only as added to wheat flour
to make the war bread now in uni
versa use in European countries. EX-
cept in Italy. whose people normally
consume much corn, our allies nave
few corn mills and cornmeal is not
durable commodity and therefore can
not be shipped in great quantities.
Moreover, for generations they have
bought bread from the bakeries; they
have no equipment nor do they. know
how to bake in the household. Every
American knows that it is infeasible
to distribute corn bread from bakeries,
and it Is therefore necessary for us
to furnish our allies with sufficient
wheat to enable them to have a wheat
basis for the loaf. However, they can
use and must use other cereals for
mixture in their war bread, and by
this substitution and by savings on
their part a great deal can be accom-
plished. On the other hand, deficit
of 4OO,OOO,OOO bushels can be at least
partially overcome if we can increase
our exports from 8S,OO0,OOO to 22O,-
100000 or nearly triple. This can be
accomplished if we will substitute one
pound of other cereals for one pound
of wheat flour weekly per person; that
is, if we reduce our consumption OF
wheat flour from five pounds per week
to four pounds per week per person.
1t will be no privation to us and will
reduce the privation Of our allies.
Food Animals.
Owing to the ascending standard of
living, the world was already strained
to supply enough animal products to
meet the demand before the war be-
zen. The war has injected into an al
ready difficult situation number of
vicious conditions which are jeOpardiz-
ing the ultimate animal products sup
ply Of the world. The production of
fodder in Europe has been diminished
by the diversion of productive labor to
war, and it's import has been curtailed
by shortage in shipping and by the
isolation of markets by belligerent
lines. From these causes not only are
the actual numbers of animals de-
creasing in Europe, but the average
weight and the annual output of dairy
products per animal, are decreasing.
A careful estimate of the worlds
food animal position shows the follow
ing position:
Decrease
Increase or In other
decrease Decrease countries
United western including Total net
States allies enemies decrease
Cattle 100000 8,42O,OOO 26,750,OOO 2SOSO,O0O
sheen 100000 100000 34OOO,OOO 545OO,O 900
Hogs 6.275,OOO 100000 31,60O.OOO 32425, 900
100000 92 35O. 900 115 OO5, 900