Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-05-02
MUST SPEED UP FOODSTUFFS.
World War Rapidly Entering Stage
OF Food Problem.

OF growing success Tor the rutnleSS
German submarine blockade has
forced the problem Of supplying the
entente quickly with food and other
necessities sharply to the forefront OF
the American governments war pro-
gram.
Aroused by information brought to
this country by the British and
French war missions. President Will
son and his cabinet set about to-day
to launch with its full force as speed
lily as possible their campaign to
break down the blockade. planned by
the administration as the nations
first physical stroke against Ger
many
Food PrOblcm.
Thc food problem occupied the
cabinet meeting almost to the eNclu-
sion OF all the other important war
questions before the government. Al
tcrwards it was indicated that the re-
cent German submarine ravages were
considered SO successful that the Uni
ted States must marshal its resources
immediately to put more merchant
ships in commission, to help devise
some means OF fighting submarines
and to insure a greater yield Of food
stuffs to offset the increasing destruc-
tion OF food cargoes in the war zone.
Must Act Quickly.
Members Of the cabinet took to the
meeting a great quantity Of informa-
ton given by the visiting missions,
including 4 plea by some members of
the French commission that America
must act quickly II the world IS to be
saved from famine. Recent declara-
tions in the British Parliament were
reviewed as supplementing this evil
dence. There was no attempt to con-
ceal the impression that the food
problem had taken on an aspect max
ing it incomparably the most press
ing question facing the United States
in it's efforts to stem the progress Of
its enemy.
More Energetic Steps.
Although details Of the steps to be
taken were not revealed. there were
indications tonight that more cner-
getic measures might be expected to
speed up the work of relieving the
food situation in the entente coun-
tries. These measures, it was pre-
dicted. would be the first to take
form rs result Of the International
war conference here.
AcceleratiOn Of the shipping boards
program for a great fleet OF wooden
ships TO carry foodstuffs is regarded
rs certain.
TO Increase Tonnage.
TO increase the transatlantic tom
mage the board is striving to put the
German and Austrian ships into SER
vice as quickly as possible and the
transfer 20 foreign trade OF as many
rs practice bic OF the coastwise and
Great Lakes steamers and more ener-
getic steps than ever in that direction
are looked for. Early action on food
control legislation is forecast.
More DcStroyerS.
What the navy will do directly to
combat the submarine menace has
not been fully developed. but it is
known that Secretary Daniels is plan
ming further conference with ship
builders to speed up the construction
OF drstrOyerS, the type OF naval YES
sci generally regarded as most effect
i've against undcrSca craft. It is
known also that American naval cx-
pertS in their conferences with the
visiting officers OF the British and
French navies are considering yari-
ons PROPOSALS for American co-opera-
ton in developing means to fight the
submarine.
As to German Food Situation.
New York. April ga Norwceiav
steamship. the first passenger liner to
leave 4 Scandinavian port for the
United States since the early part OF
February, arrived here to-day with
l.lG5 persons on board. Many we're
Americans. stranded in Denmark
Norway and Sweden when sea traffic
was interrupted by the German sub-
marine declaration of January 81
| Among the Americans were n num-
! bcr Of physicians who had been WORK
ing In German Gnl Austrian hospi-
tails. They said that rigid censorship