The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-05-02
Officials Aroused by Start.
ling Report.
MORE SHIPS ARE
NEEDED FOR FOOD
United States dust Help Devise Some
Means OF Fighting U-Boats as Well
as increasing Food Crops. TO Speed
up Ship Budding.

as Increasing Food Crops. TO Speei
up Ship Budding.
Washington, April 27.--Evidence OF
growing success for the ruthless Ger
man submarine blockade has forced
the problem Of supplying the Entente
quickly with food and other necessi-
ties sharply into the forefront Of the
American governments war program
Aroused by information brought to
this country by the British and French
war missions. President Wilson and
his cabinet set about today to launch
with its full force as speedily as pos
sible their campaign to break down
the blockade, planned by the admins
tration as the nations first physical
stroke against Germany.
The food problem occupied the cabi-
net meeting almost to the exclusion
of all the other important war ques-
tons before the government. After
ward it was indicated that ,hc recent
German submarine ravagcs were con-
sidcrcd SO successful that the United
States must marshal its resources i'm
mediatcly to put more merchant ships
in commission, to help devise some
means of fighting submarines and to
insure 4 greater yield Of foodatuffs to
offset the increasing destruction Of
food cargocS in the war zone
Members Of the cabinet took to the
meeting great quantity OF informa-
ton given by the visiting missions, in
Guiding Il pleas by some members Of
the French commission that America
must act quickly If the worl dis to
be saved from famine. Recent decla-
rations in the British Parliament were
reviewed as supplemcnting this cvi-
dencc. There was no attempt to con-
ceal the impression that the food prob
lew had taken on an aspect making it
incomparaby the most pressing qucs-
ton facing the United States in it's
efforts to stem the progress of its
enemy.
Although details of the steps to be
taken were not revealed, there were
indications tonight that moro energetic
measures might be expected to speed
up the work Of relieving the food sit
uation in the Entente countries These
measures, ii was predicted, would be
the first to take form as a result of
the international war conference here
Accclcration Of the Shipping Boards
program for great fleet of wooden
ships to carry foodstuffs is regarded
as certain.
TO increase the transatlantic ton
mage the board Is striving to put the
German and Austrian ships into ser
vice as quickly as possible and the
transfer to foreign trade OF as many
rs practicable OF the cOastwsc and
Great Lakes steamers and more cncr-
gctic step than ever in that direction
are looked for. early action on food
control legislation is forecast
What the navy will do directly to
combat the submarine menace has not
been fully developed, but it Is known
that Secretary Daniels Is nlrnnnS fur
thcr conferences with ship builders to
speed up the construction Of destroy
crs the type Of naval vessel generally
regarded as most effective against un-
dcrsca craft. 1t Is known also that
American naval experts in their con
ferenccs with the visiting officers Of
the British and French navics are
considering various proposals for
American cooperation in developing
means to fight the submarine.
These subjects, it Is understood,
were touched upon only briefly at the
cabinet meeting, as was the decision
to send a mission, headed by Elihu
Root. to Russia. President Wilson ex-
poets to Get this mission Itogcthcb
within few days and it is expected to
go by way Of the Pacific to avoid the
submarine danger. internal condi-
tiOns In Russia are understood to be
considered rather unfavorable, but Of
ficials believe that with the proper or
ganization and encouragement the
new democratic government can be re-
lived into an even more powerful al
ly in tho cause against Germany.
Miss Kathleen wilkes returned