Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-12
HOOVER OUTLINES PLANS
As HEAD OF FOOD BOARD
Initiates Wide Inquiry in France,
England and Italy as to EN-
listing Conditions.
TO BENEFIT By EXPERIENCE
Expects to Leave Shortly for Amer
ica to Take III New Dutics-Dc-
clares Our First Duty to Allies Is
to Sec That They Have Food.

by Associated Press
40 y - y y, >April 1l.---Herbcrt c.
Hoover. head OF the American Commits
sion for Relief i'm Belgium, after con-
sultation with his colleagues on tho
commission. has accepted the chair
manShip offered him by the National
Defense Council OF the new food board
in the United States
Mr.. Hoover expects TO leave shortly
Tor America. Meanwhile. he has initi-
atcd wide inquiry i'll France. England
and Italy regarding the existing food
situation, having the co-opcration OF
the various governments in this work
The inquiry includes examination OF
the prospects of the coming harvcsts
import necessities. methods Of food
regulation and control now i'm opera
hon IN the allied countries and the
results achieved through these methods.
After having accepted the position
OF chairman of the American Food
Board. Mr.. Hoover made the follow
ing statement to the Associated Press.
outlining his plans:
II will at present continue as chair
man OF the belgian Relief Commits
SION, but will return To the United
states shortly. The Dutch have taken
over control OF relief inside Belgium
and Northern France and opened re-
lationS with the German governments
the activities Of the Hclrian Relief
Commission now being confined to
financing the purchase and delivery OF
supplies At the Belgian frontier My
very able and lonS-cXpcricnccd col
leagues. MesSrS. Honnold Poland
Brown, Grey and Kellogg. are entirely
able, any one of them. to carry on the
direction of the relief work ! shall,
however. give them such assistance on
the financial side as may be necessary.
CONDUCTS WIDE inquiry
INTO EXISTING CONDITIONS
beginning to-day. I am initiating a
wide inquiry in France. England and
Italy. in cooperation with government
departments, into the existing food sit
uation. the prospects of the coming
harvest. important necessities and the
methods OF regulating food control az
at present in operation and their
working results in allied countries
one important feature OF this in
quiry will be the methods used TO con-
troll prices and for the elimination of
speculation. for Europe has been "A vast
experimental laboratory i'm this par
ticular. The stan of the relief COM
Sium have volunteered to undertake
the details OF this investigations
The foremost duty Of America to-
ward her allies in this war is to see
that they are supplied with food.
France, England and Italy. in ordinary
times. depended largely on Russia, Rou-
mania and Bulgaria for a large por-
ton of their brcadstuffs. With the
isolation of these countries they were
thrown wholly upon tho Western Hem
isDhcrc. The bumper western harvest
of 1915 was able to carry the load
without strain. but the more normal,
or in places short. harvest of 1916
coupled with the fact that our allies
are to-day giving whole and able
bodied manhood To arms and the manu-
facture of munitions has brought tho
whole allied world face to face with a
shortage Of breadstuns
Their women are in the fields bur
production in their territories is much
bcloT normal. If they are to con
tikahe to fight, much larger burden
OF the food supply must rest upon
America. From the necessities OF tic
case. we can put few soldiers in tho
field. but every spadeful Of earth
turned by our farmers. every seed we
plant. every ounce OF waste we elm
mate, is just as much Il contribution
to the joint cause as that Of man
in the trenches.
MCST INCREASE Production
bY EVERY KNOWN DEVICE
we must Increase our production
by every device of our able farming
community with the stimulating adj
vice and guidance our agricultural in