The Irish standard., 1917-06-23
DONEGAL PEOPLE IN
GRASP OF famine
Serious Food Shortage-Government
Authorities and Others Come to
the Rescue.


Authorities and Others Come to
the Rescue.
A very serious situation has devel-
oped in practically every part of
County Donegal owing to the search
ty of food and fodder, according to
associated reports from that part of
Ireland. In the western and north
western coast parishes the position
of affairs is especially acute, and, if
prompt measures are not taken to
grapple with the crisis problem of
the utmost gravity will inevitably
arise.
Approaching Letterkenny from
Strabane one passes through q dis
trict among the best titled in Ireland.
In 1916 East Donegal, as is usual in
the locality, produced an abundant
crop, but in few places there was a.
considerable shortage In the potato
yield. The military authorities, no
doubt, made large acquisitions in this
district during the winter months,
but, in any case, it is not in the east
ern portion of the county that the
shortage of fodder and seeds has been
felt.
The long continued frost and snow
during the month of April left the
live stock in the districts lying to-
ward the Atlantic in serious want of
fodder, and, to prevent the animals
dying of hunger, grain and potato re-
serves for seed had to be encroached
upon. It was at this stage that the
priests and members of Parliament
for the divisions of the county prompt
ly called attention to the pressing
needs of the people.
| Immediate Action.
The Department took immediate
action, and the military stores in
Derry and elsewhere were made avail
able to meet the crisis. The neces-
sary supplies of fodder and later on
of seeds, were sent into the affected
areas, and the crisis was gradually
overcome.
Warm appreciation is everywhere
expressed at the promptness with
which Mr.. Russell, with the co-opera-
ton of Captain Hasan, representing
the military authorities, death with
the situation.
At the present moment and for the
past ten days more serious prob
lew is engaging the attention of the
leading men in Donegal There are
very large areas in the county where
the people live every year on imported
foodstuffs during the summer months
to greater or less extent In those
districts the potato crops were, on
the whole, short and inferior in quail
ity, with the result that this summer
the demand for imported meal and
flour is much above the normal.
Widespread Distress. .
That is the crux. At present the
supply of foodstuffs is not anything
even approaching the demand, and
widespread distress exists in the
country.
The actual position in no way re-
sembles the old story of want and
distress. For every pounds worth Of
fodder and seed supplied by the pub
lie authorities the people have paid
to the last penny. They are equally
prepared and ready to pay for the
food that is SO urgently needed for
human consumption.
Mr.. Russell, who made personal
inspection of the affected areas last
week, has given assurances that ev-
erything possible will be done to
meet the situation.
Rev. ]. McCafferty, Adm, Letter
kenny, received a message from him
today intimating that supplies of
maize have been despatched to Done
gal, and that further supplies of food
stuffs will be forthcoming. There
fore there is reason to hope that the
great anxiety which is keenly felt in
all parts of Donegal will soon be re-
lieved.
| The Most Rev. DR.. O'Donnell and
Rev. Father M'Cafferty, Adm, and a
numbe Or of other priests, as we'll as
representative public men, are leav-
ing nothing undone to provide for
| the needs Of tho roOn1o .....