New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
u. S., He Says, Must Find a
Way to Send Ships and
Food to Europe
Here to Do His Bit
Situation of Allies Far Graver
than Americans Realize,
He Declares

Herbert e. Hoover returned yc.'',
day after two months VISIT 70 bc'
oium. Holland. Spain. France and bnG
land 70 assume his new position a.
food dictator for the American govern
ment. He brought warning OIL INC
havoc done by the U-boat'.
THE German submarine menace IL
far greater than any ono in me Cnited
states realizes" Mr.. Hoover SAID. ut
is thought by some that II may Jeop-
ardizo the commerce Of the Allies ana
isolate Britain unless some effective
way is found to check 1t. 1t IS here
that the United States must act m
sending ships that arrive at their dcN'
tination. FOOD and ships are the two
present requisites of Europe -espe-
cially food.
Home TO ado His Bit
"Ive Just come home to do my blt'
he continued. simply. at is premature
ia talk about my new duties. as they
arc very indefinite as yet. America hcs
:. lot to learn. especially about wsstage
and the conservation OF by-products.
and u Is necessary to take lessons from
the countries abroad. that we may not
suffer as many mistakes as they dld al
the outset
Mr. Hoover looked much older than
when he left New York seven weeks
ago for Spain to assist IN the trans
portation of food for Belgium through
neutral countries. He was met at the
pier by the Baron Emil &c Cartier,
Belgian Minister, and members of tire
Belgian Relief Commission IN this
country.
The food situation in Europe is one
Of the greatest gravity" Mr.. Hoover
explained. The cable reports from
the other side DO not eXaggerate at all
the difficulty in obtaining food In
Belgium the civilian population is lit
orally dying by hundreds from starva-
ton.
Mortality Is Tripled
"Siuce the diminution of our sup
plies the mortality of the industrial
parts Of Belgium has been triDled. The
greatest has been among the adults. as
il has been rule Of the commission
70 look after the children first.
THE Belgian Relief Committee is
Just beginning 20 get on its feet again
after the staggering blow dealt it b.
the German U-boat campaign. In March
and April we landed only 10000 tons Of
foodstuFs. instead Of $50 900 required
for immediate needs. II was less than
% per cent Of the food necessary to
keep the civilian population from star
walton.
Recently five ships bound for Hol
land with food were sunk without
warning. The commission needs more
than seventy ships Immediately, to add
10 the thirty We already have. These
are kept going continuously, the load
ing and unloading being performed in
three daily shifts of eight hours each
Holland and Spain. according to Mr..
Hoover, are more than doing their part
in assisting Belgium. He added that 1t
was up to the United States TO act be-
Tore it was TOO late.
While in Spain Mr. Hoover had a
long talk with King Alfonso on the
general food situation, and together
they mapped out a plan thought feas-
ible in assisting Belgium. This Ny.
Hoover would not divulge.
Europe needs wheat and other kinds
of grain" the commission chief con-
tinued. After wheat and grain come
meats, both pork and beef. In many
places in England and France it is i'm
possible 70 obtain meat, and the people
are existing entirely on vegetable
diet"
In France and Great Britain Mr.
Hoover had conferences with the food
dictators and other influential mem
bers Of the government. lie returns
with the entire plans Of the ways in
which the countries AT war are caring
for their civilian populations and CO.
operating with the heads of the army
TO the end that after the men in the
service get sufficient food the people
obtain requisite amount.
Mr.. Hoover upon leaving the pier
proceeded by train to Washington.