Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-23
SOUNDS WARNING THAT ALL
PRECAUTIONS MUST Be
TAKEN BY NATION
TO CONSERVE FOODS
SAYS ENGLAND MUST DEAL WITH
TONNAGE QUESTION "PRoMPT.
~ AND RuTHLEsslY TO CUT
DOWN lUxURlES-CO COUNTRY
FEELS SUBSEA BLOW.

London, Feb. 23,-England Is feel
ing sharply the blows of Germany's
submarine feet. This was made plain
by Premier Lloyd George in the
House of Commons today when he de.
livered his heralded speech on the
necessity to restrict imports.
The Premier declared that the gov
ernment hoped to deal effectively with
the submarine menace despite the dif.
ficulties in the way of hunting down
underwater boats.
There are three sets Of measures
said Mr.. Lloyd-George. First. there
is the means provided by the navy as
outlined the other day by Sir Edward
Carson, first lord Of the Admiralty;
second, the building of more merchant
ships third. dispensing with unnec-
essary commodities that we will have
more ship bottoms for the carrying
of necessities
The Premier made the startling
declaration that there is not only
shortage of tonnage for ordinary
needs OF the nation, but for military
necessities as well.
This was the first time that 1t has
been officially admitted that the Ger.
marine war is crippling the British
government.
THE gravest kind OF measures are
necessary in this situation,' declared
the Premier The government is
hopeful of dealing effectively with
this matter, but we should be guilty
of the worst kind of folly if we rested
TRANQUILITY upon the realization Of that
hope We have to have aetieH and
we have to deal ruthlessly and prompt
ly with the tonnage question"
The Premier said that more than
100000 tons of British shipping has
been assigned to France.
IF grave and speedy measures are
not taken at once, we face disaster"
asserted the prime minister. I'VE
must find ships to bear iron ore at all
cost, for that is necessary for the
making of the ammunition which will
win the war;" /
Mr.. Lylod George stated that enOr-
nous sacrifices would have to be made
by the English people, but he knew
that patriotism would triumph and
that all Brtons would remain staunch,
bearing the hardships without COM
plant
The Premier said that the people
could not hope for victory until the
submarine menace Is wiped out.
In announcing the governments
program the Prime Minister said that
the importation Of coffee, sugar. tea
and cocoa would be prohibited and
that the importation Of oranges, ba-
nanas and nuts would be greatly re-
stricted All Injuries are to be cut
down.
Landlords in rural communities
will be prevented from raising rents
and prices were fixed for wheat and
other cereas as well as potatoes.
No one will be allowed to speculate
in food prices.
The importation of meat Is to be
cut down to a big extent and the i'm.
portation of canned salmon Is to be
cut in half.
The Premier made no effort to min.
imize the seriousness Of the food
shortage which confronts England as
result OF the German submarine
warfare. He said that the stock OF
food on hand now is the lowest on
record.
1T was inevitable that the German
submarine war would injure the EN-
, pires trade said Mr. Lloyd George
[ "We must meet 1t in an effective way
| Shipbuldng will be- increased and
, encouraged by the Government tt
make up the loss Of tonnage.
Before the war. said the speaker
British tonnage was just adequate toi
the needs of the empire. Since then
there has neen an enormous increase
!. In the demand for new tonnage. ~
: addition to the ship furnished u
France, Others were placed at the dis
4 posa Of ltaly and Russia
/. The Premier announced that tho
n government has established mini
mum wage OF Is shilling approx
:, mately se.25) for farm workers TIM
:, step was taken to encourage person'
:. to enter that kind OF work