Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-05-30

inc SuDuldTlDSS AT Ineif tnOOIluESf VI
to mine and net their approaches TO
the open sea, but the mere suggestion
that something of this kind shall be
tried by the nayies of Great Britain
and France is proof that some OF the
sea captains think the scheme offers
a possibility OF success. II may also
prove that the urging of American
naval officers has been met with sue
cess, a success made easier perhaps
because the civilian population of Eng
land through the press has been ask
ing for months why the British navy
did not crush the sea hornets in their
nests.
Civilian criticism, and there has
been lot of it in England, is apt TO
be based on an entire lack of knowl-
edge. or at best only half knowledge.
of conditions. Recently there came TO
the United States from England an
American who had lived for years In
one of the channel ports of the island.
He is friend of the writer of this
article. He said that the civilian pop
ulation of England seemed to feel that
1t would be possible for the navy. with
out sacrificing anything of strategic
value, TO wipe out the submarine base
at Zeebrugge. Belgium.
The English newspapers for a long
time have been carrying In the voice
of the people" and "old subscriber
columns, letters demanding to know
why the navy does not sail over and
smash the submarine base at the Bel
gian port named. These letters have
been answered occasionally by sailors
who naturally did not sign their names,
but the answers simply have breathed
the word impossible" without giving
any real reasons as to why the thing
cannot be done.
Zeebrugge Well Defended
Zeebrugge is directly across the wa
ter from Margate and Ramsgate, Eng
land, and the distance is not great.
Margate and Ramsgate have been bonn
barded several times. II is the close
ness of this hornets nest which has
brought 1t to the sharp attention of
the English people from time 50 time
The Belgian coast n~c- ths submarine
base is low and sandy, but the whole
sea area of its front is mined and
there are huge land batteries protect.
ing the approaches.
The defenses of the place are such
as to have made it appear to the Brit.
ish authorities that IL the place and
it's contents were destroyed the de
struction would not be worth the losses
which must be incurred IN the opera.
lions.
England Not Yet Hungry.
Probably every reader of an Ameri
can newspaper noticed that after the
statement by Secretary OF the Interior
Lane that the submarine situation was
desperate, the British commissioners
without allowing themselves to be
quoted sought 10 soften the effect OF
the cabinet officers words.
The English people have not yet
gone o. a ration basis. Just what Is
the food condition OF the island? This
question has been answered fairly full
ly By some Of the British commission
ers.
OF course, the submarine menace
has direct connection with the feed.
ing OF England, France and Italy. Eng.
land today has enough food 10 supply
her people and her armies for some
time TO come. and IL Is probable that
so far as the island is concerned,
things will be ON two-thirds self
sustaining basis when the new crop
is gathered.
England. however as has been point
ed out recently, must look after
France and Italy. Therefore. the sit
uation In the islands becomes the sit
uatlon In the countries of It's western
allies For a long time after the war
began the British authorities made no
effort 70 cut down the food consump-
ton OF It's people. The submarines
had not succeeded In cutting Off sup
plies 20 such an extent that things
were getting dangerous. II was only
comparatively recently. IN fact. that
England has felt the necessity OF curb
ing the appetite Of Its people.
The other day King George issued a
proclamation urging the English 10 get
along with three-quarters Of the food
that they were using at that time. II
has been figured IN England that about
one-fifth is waste. and so If the pe0-
pie. while cutting down one-quarter,
could save 0ne-flfth. they ccrld 20 On
eating almost as much as hey have
been eating in the past.
In France, even under present con
dltions. the people probably are rs
well Off az they are In England. for
the simple reason that the French
never waste anything. The French
cook will take what is left from an
English dinner table and make three
solid meals OUT Of II for as many din
ers as sat at the first table. Moreover.
The food will be 80 transformed by
the artful hand directed by the artfuI
mind Of the cook. that the diners will
never suspect that they are partaking
Of leftovers. II viii be hard job 10
starve the French
Atsvsn.
st'Thev say they are upsT fighting on