The courier-index., 1917-08-24
Commodity.


 ~~~-~-~~o-~-~-o~~-~-o~"o' United States, on which they were ac- customed to rely before the war. The Russian supply cannot be got out. Bulgarian and Roumanian supplies are in the hands of the central empires The voyage from Australia and India is three times as long and therefore requires three times as many tons or shipping as is required from North AL lantic ports. It is also twice as dan- gerous because of the longer exposure to submarine attack. There has been a large failure in the South American countries and the new harvest rom that quarter will not be available Tn Europe until next spring. As already said. all the allied countries are ana have been for some time vigorously ad- ministering and economizing tneir food. In Belgium. the relief commits sion has been compelled to reduce the consumption of cereals by nearly 5o per cent; this brings the food supply so low that the population are ln- capable of labor.
 From the above tables 1t will be seen that on normal bases of consump- ton the total allied wheat import re- ouirements are 577.OO0.O0o bushels against a North American surplus of POS. .OOO,O 900 bushels-and from our United States supplies we must re- serve certain amount for neutrals from which we receive vital supplies and also an amount to protect our stocks better next year than this last. There is therefore on normal con sumption a deficit of over 4O0,O0O,oOo bushels. In the other cereals used Tn Europe mostly for animal feed, the Import necessities of the allies on nor nal consumption basis are about 614,- OOO,OO0 against North American sur plus of 95OOOO.0OO. But again a re- serve for neutrals and increased ear ry over" will absorb all the margin. In any event 1t means we must multi ply our exports of these cereals 2o times. However, upon the basis of our present crop prospects we should be able to supply their requirements in cereals other than wheat.
 Wheat Situation Difficult.
 The situation in wheat is one or great difficulty and concern, and must be met by an elimination of waste and reduction of consumption on the part of the allied peoples and ourselves. in one word, by an effective administra- tion of the available supply.
 The allies are unable to use other cereals alone for bread. They can use them only as added to wheat flour to make the war bread now in uni versal use in European countries. Elk cept in Italy,. whose people normally consume much corn, our allies have few corn mills and cornmeal is not a durable commodity and therefore can not be shipped in great quantities.
 Moreover, for generations they have bought bread from the bakeries; they have no equipment nor do they know how to bake in the household. Every American knows that 1t is infeasibie to distribute corn bread from bakeries, and it is therefore necessary for us to furnish our allies with sufficient wheat to enable them to have wheat basis for the loaf. However, they can use and must use other cereals for mixture in their war bread, and by this substitution and by savings on their part a great deal can be accom- .lk.Aoa n.x fho nthar hond dQfiptf of 400,000,000 bushels can be at least partially overcome if we can increase our exports from SS.000,000 to 220,- 100000 or nearly triple. This can be accomplished if we will substitute one pound of other cereals for one pound of wheat flour weekly per person; that is. if we reduce our consumption of wheat flour from five pounds per week to four pounds per week per person. It will be no privation to us and will reduce the privation of our allies.
 Food Animals.
 Owing to the ascending standard of living, the world was already strained to supply enough animal products to meet the demand before the war be- gan. The war has injected into an all ready difficult situation a number of vicious conditions which are jeopardiZ- ing the ultimate animal products sup ply of the world. The production of fodder in Europe has been diminished by the diversion of productive labor to war, and its import has been curtailed by shortage in shipping and by the Isolation of markets by belligerent lines. From these causes not only are the actual numbers of animals de- t, mt hn O.