The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-10-29
Short of Food and Fuel for Her
People as Well as
Armies
BY HARRY B. HUNT.

Washington, Oct. 29.-Itaiy, short of
food and fuel for her armies as we'll
as her people, has appealed to the
United States for emergency relief.
Coal and foodstuffs-particularly
>coal--are absolutely necessary ii her
important military gains against Aus
tria are not to be hampered or stop
ped The importance of maintaining
the Italian offensive is such that the
United States food and fuel admins
trations and the shipping board are
cooperating to rush supplies.
.ltaly's coal situation is worse than
that of either France or England, as
no coal is produced within her terri
tory. The demands on England for
coal for her own war industries, for
the joint navies of England, France
and the United States operating in
the war zone, for shipping to English
and French ports, and for French war
industries, exhaust her production. Al
so there are no English vessels to
transport coal to Italy.
The result IS Italy today is virtually
wi hou. coal. She has been forced to
close several large gun shops and is
now getting guns from England In
stead of making them.
No coal will be used in Italy this
winter for private consumption. There
will be no furnaces lighted in hotels
or homes. Last winter one Florence
hotel was heated entirely by Pine
cones from neighboring forests. This
winter wood, pine cones and other
make-shift fuels must furnish the heat
for Italian homes
Italys pre-war coal imports aver
aged 10000 tons. New war industries
demand an additional 250,00O tons
monthly, making the present import
requirements-if domestic use and
peace time industries were maintained
Il, 100000 tons monthly.
Ly limitations of peace industries
and curtailment Of domestic use, the
requirements were brought down to
$4,000 tons This much is essential
to keep her armies equipped.
But of this minimum, Italy has been
getting only about 100000 tons a.
month. Reserve stocks have been
wiped out to meet the shortage and
today ltaly's whole war program is
je0pardized.
AS to food, Italy more than year
ago reorganized her import and dis
tribution departments and the whole
country has been on strict wartime
regimen.
Bread has been standardized and
none is sold until "a hours old. Con-
sumption is strictly limited, and the
ration even for soldiers has been re-
duced from 750 to 600 grams, except
for soldiers operating at attitudes
above $500 feet. The wheat is milled
to 80 per cent and this flour is mixed
with inferior cereals.
There is shortage of all cereals.
The government is attempting to
limit the sugar consumption to $4,000
tons month for the entire popula-
ton, including the army. This would
give 500 grams, or about l pound, per
person. The manufacture and sale
of confectionery and all sweets is pro
hibited and in all the larger cities su.
gar cards are in force. Very often
holders of cards are unable to get
their sugar rations because there is
none
The sale of fresh meats is prohibit
ed on two days each week, and the
number of cattle slaughtered monthly
has been regulated.
Lecause of the shortage Of home
crops and imports, the consumption
of corn by hogs was limited. This
forced the slaughtering of hogs and
whiis relieving the grain situation de- !
veicpad crisis In meats and fats. I
These are only the high marks in
Italy's presentation Of her case in re.