Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1917-12-01
FOOD SITUATION IS
GROWING SERIOUS
SINCE j. s. EMBARGO

CHRISTIANIA. Nov. 90.-tCorres-
pondence of The Associated Press).-
The food situation in Norway has
grown from bad to worse, especially
since the American embargo was i'm
posed. So long as the commercial re-
lations could be maintained between
Norway and the United States. the i'm
port of food was about big enough to
meet the consumers demand. Except
for the steadily increasing prices of
all articles of food everything could be
bought al before. the only form of ra-
tioning being sugar which could only
be bought from government. stores two
pounds at time.
AS a matter of fact, the government
and especially the food minister had
been too optimistic. When cable
grams from Washington stated that
the American government was going
to place an embargo on different ar
ticles the answer from the Norwegian
government to the press. asking how
this would affect Norway. was that il
only meant that Norway should guar
antee that nothing would be re-eXport-
ed 10 Germany. and then Norway
would get all it needed.
At last. during the last two months
| il has dawned on the government that
| Uncle Sam means business and that
Norway cannot expect special favors
as a favorite friend.
! After the impOr alton of grain and
-four stopped the government estab-
lished a grain monopoly taking charge
of all grain imported and produced
here. The farmers are not allowed TO
! sell their crops to anyone but the gov
eminent and at a fixed price. The
nation will be put on -four and bread
rations, every person, adult or child
being allowed % pounds of bread
monthly. or IL pounds of unsifted -four,
The people, however, are instructed
to mix potatoes in the bread dough
With this years crop and the imported
grain in storage, Norway has enough
-four till February or March. 1t is
hoped here that The United States will
grant export licenses for some of the
grain bought there by Norwegian i'm
porters and the Norwegian govern
men: which now is ready for shipment
Norway is dependent on imported
sugar as no sugar is produced here
The consumption of sugar is still un
limited. Candy factories turn out as
much candy as before and no sugar
card is in use here, as in Sweden.
Last summer an ordinance was pass
ed putting motor vehicles and motor
craft on rations of gasoline. The re
suit was that automobiles were used
more freely than ever The American
embargo again forced the authorities
| TO action and the sale of gasoline for
use in private cars was entirely stop
ped beginning October /. Taxicabs
were only permitted to operate from
8 a. m. TO p. m. and the streets in the
| city are now as quiet and free from
noise as they were twenty years ago.
The supply of kerosene is becoming
very low with no prospect of replace
ment. For fishers this is disastrous
as all along the coast they are using
kerosene-driven motor boats. The
country population and the poor PEG
pie in the cities using kerosene for
light and cooking are hard hit, as ev
cry family is only allowed two gallons
a month.
The scarcity of fat is felt more and
more every day. The majority of the
population have been using margarine
instead of butter, but now that the raw
stuffs for this product are not allowed
to be exported from the United States
the margarine production is reduced
every week. Grocers have been fore
ed to put their customers on allow
ance, nobody receiving more than q
pound at once Norway is facing fat
shortage and the nation will have 10 be
rationed.
AS for fuel, the people are put on ra
tiohs, except those who can take care
of themselves and AFFORD to pay the
prices for coal and coke imported from
Great Britain.
Everybody asks. why does not the
government entirely stop exports II
thereby more favorable importing
conditions can be established with the
allies?' But no official answer is
given.