The Washington herald., 1917-01-07
By JOHN L. RALDERsToN.
Gopydsht, isu, p the Mcclure Nsvpspx

C9ully Wc1Bhe ed IN Qulercnl CilicB u tAFS
German empire IN order to ascertain the
eject on their bodies Of war diet The
test showed that the men had lost on an
average Of Is pounds each during the war
The women each pounds.
This winter food conditions in Germany
nre vastly worse than ever before. and
fn kustrtia-Hungary the spectre Of fam
Inc already stalks. Nor Is the shortage
confined to the central powers, although
they suffer more than their enemies be-
cause OF the blockade. But France and
RusSaa, and now even Britain. are feel-
Ing the pinch as It has not been felt for
generations, and the most radical and
urgent measures are taken by the newly
formed governments in the entente capt
tails to enable thei- populations to mold
out until the Teutonic allies are starved.
II not beaten, into surrender.
Sufficient facts regarding food condi-
lions In Britain, F. Ince, Russia, Ger
many and Australia = gary will be given
here to throw som sht on the situation
IN each country tn, Will help TO make
clear the reason wy the Germans are
desperately anxious for peace, and why
President Wilson feels that the allies may
soon be ready to accommodate them. In
the case Of the Teutonic allies the infor-
NATION given Is obtained from reliable
or official information without reference
to the wild stories. probably false or ex-
aKEsrated, current mere aDOu1
starvation and food riots.
GREAT BRITAIN.
In England prices are going up by leaps
and bounds, and already the government
has announced that one meatless day
week win be enforced IN the near future,
and that everybody Is to be placed upon
sugar rations. Captain Bathurst the
new food controller, declares the causes
of high prices to be the relative failure
of harvest all over the world, the lack
of ships to carry food to these Islands
due TO the demands for war transport
and to submarine activity, and finally
the decreased production OF food in
Great Britain caused by the enlistment
Of more than a million agricultural la
borers
TIE new Lloyd George government is
vigorously tackling all Of these phases Of
the crisis, and while 1917 will be a lean
year for Britons. there seems no reason
to believe that the efficiency of the ma
tion for war will Re impaired by lack Of
nourishment The most interesting phase
of the food problem here is the submarine
war, which is raging with unprecedented
success. But perhaps more important
than the U-boat activity is the question
OF production at home and the waste in
the use of war transport.
The Industrial conscription soon to be
carried out is expected to provide labor
for the farms in sufficient quantity to
make possible more homegrown food and
less imported. while a rigid elimination
of waste and over-consumption, an off,
cial OF the board Of trade told me yes
terday will improve the health of the
community and more than make up for
thu food lost through submarine exploits.
This may be too optimistic, but in peace
time Englishmen notoriously ate more
than any other people excepting Ger
mans, and the loss Of one of the four
meals Of the day might prove a blessing
In disguise.
Not Quite Doubled.
The prices Of food are now not quite
double what they wera in August, 1874
an advance Of 30 per cent in the average
prices of staples like bread. meat, po-
tatoes and tea has taken place. Even so,
comparison OF prices here and in New
York City shows that, war and all.
Britain has not quite caught up with
the American cost OF living. Wages are
much lower here than in the United
States, however, so that the purchasing
power Of the working classes is less than
at home, despite the prosperity Of work
er- in war trades. In Dublin and other
Irish cities of the south munition indus
tries scarcely exist, while the demand OF
England for foodstuTs has sent prices
don, and the resulting destitution among
the Industrial poor is an important fac
tor In the dangerous political situation
In Ireland. although small farmers have
been benefited by the war
Sober German opinion seems convinced
that Great Britain, il she chooses to con-
tfnue the war indefinitely, can eventually
be starved into submission by submarines.
Unless submarines in far greater num-
oers can be kept upon the trade route
the German hope is doomed to dfsap-
= pointment, have been assured by Brit
fsh naval authorities who know the
nsures of the output OF British shipyards
st present as well as the amount of
destruction the Germans have been able
20 accomplish. The submarine situation
- serious, the Germans have found ways
To elude the traps which brought the
nrst two Underwater campaigns to grief.
But the opinion of those who know what
10 going on is that the submarine can
not starVe England out no matter how
long the war may last. and II It does not
DO that IT cannot decide the war.
Arthur Pollen, the naval expert estt-
mates that since August of this wear
re destruction OF shipping has been car
ned out at rate Of 100000 tons a
year, while the normal shipbuflding OUT
Pm OF these Islands is 100000 tons a
year. Until recently, shipyards conca1-
rated on naval work. and not much r,ar-
Giant shipping was laid down, but tbs
now government has changed all that
and under war pressure It is hoped tbst
~ least as many ships can be Construct
&C as In peace time.
Labor Ranks Depleted
The ranks Of labor are depleted but
y seandardizing construction ana vork-
bg longer hours without the usual ,r,ds
n'iion restrictions this handicap nnav hs
overcome. Nor can the German, t.Ls
epmfort In the knowledge that FnxIsnS
by building merchant ships instead ~
Eershfps Increase the chancea n, IRE
German feet IN a battle: the fact q, a.
I Know from personal Observation that
Gncs war began the British navy has
grown 50 miraculously that no con-
cadvaole German building program could
threaten It's supremacy for years even N
not another warship were launched on
me Clyde or the Tyne
During the whole course of the war
s-orfes have been told about the anna zinx
waste Of shipping requfsitioned by the
admiralty. Ships have been kept enntv
tor months waiting orders, have been
kaded with one cargo and then re-
sailed and unloaded again and nIIad rv,,h