The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-10-09
RODERlCK Q. MATHEsON. EDITOR
WHY We Must Save

LUKOPE, rs short OF food, due to the diversion
- of millions of men from production to war, to
the occupation of land BY the armies, to the sola
ton of markets by belligerent lines Always de.
pendent upon imports for large portion Of its food
for men and animals and for fertilizers the subna
rine destruction of shipping has limited Europe II
her imports of fodder and fertilizers until many ami
mails have necessarily been slaughtered and the sol
reduced in productivity, Furthermore, shipping mus
now be devoted to the most concentrated foods ant
to getting these from the nearest market--Norti
America. An Of these conditions win continue t
cumulate until the war is over. .%
The supplies in the worlds larder for the mex
twelve months are now known. They are too shor
to support allies unless every man. woman ant
child enters National service to support the food adj
ministration, says official statement from Wash
ngton explaining the urgency of the need of saving
food. a. .:ara 5.... s.. .@-.
France, England ireland, Italy, and Belgium il
peace time import forty percent of their wheat Ow
ing to the reduction in harvest they must during tho
next twelve months import sixty percent. In peac,
times we furnish eight and onehfth percent of theii
breadstuffs; Canada furnishes eleven and sixteenth:
percent and they draw from other markets, twenty
and two-tenths percent This year, the fine exertior
of Canada will furnish about fifteen percent, We
must furnish twenty percent and we must reseryt
two percent for neutras from whom draw vita
supplies. This leaves twenty-five percent which
the Allies must exc out by use of other cereals If
their war bread obtain from other markets or fur
ther reduce consumption. Our twenty-five percent
means 220000,000 bushels of wheat against our sur
plus in this year of short crops of only 88,oOoOoo
il we eat normally If we reduce our wheat -four
consumption from five pounds per week per person
to four pounds we shall make available Our quota
The food animals among the Allies have decreased
since the war began by about 100000 head, thu:
their meat, fat milk and butter have decreased II
the face of increased need. They normally import
thirty percent of their fodder-grains, corn, oats
barley, and rye. Owing to the reduction in thei
harvest they must, this next twelve months impor
ffty-six percent if they receive the normal amount
In peace times we furnish them under two percent
and Canada under one percent. This year we mus
alone furnish chem with at least forty percent, al
Canada produces little but wheat. Our quota mean
500,o00,000 bushels and we do it if our grea
corn and oats crops mature.
They need the cereals other than wheat, not onl,
to supply feed for animals but partly to substitute
for wheat in the bread. They can however, only alb
sorb certain amount of corn for human food, for
except in Italy, they have never eaten corn bread
and have no adequate mills and, besides, household
baking is lost art and corn bread can not be dis
trbuted from the bakeries. Therefore, they mus
have wheat as the basis Tor their war LOAF.
France and Italy formerly produced their owl
sugar. They can not do so now. England importet
largely from Germany and Russia Therefore, OH
allies must now come to the West Indies for owe
100000 tons If they to obtain a normal amount
They thus draw from our own source of supply ant
we must divide with them.
OF potatoes and other vegetables we have super
abundance, which we cannot ship because they re
quire from four to ten times the tonnage of NOR
concentrated foods. We have abundant fish, SCI
foods, and poultry.
Therefore, we have two clear duties: First, t.
substitute other commodities we have in abundance
for those that we can ship second, to eliminate
every waste If in this way can reduce Our aver
age consumption per person one pound OF whea
-four two ounces Of fat, seven ounces of sugar, ant
seven ounces of meat per week. and If we use GU
milk and butter carefully and without waste, Cal
maintain our own people on full diet and can still
supply the deficiency in Our allies food for whe
these apparently small individual savings multi
piled by 100000 every week they assume 81
gantc proportions and offer complete solution o
our problem.
We must remember that every flag that file
against Germany is by proxy the American fag tina
those fighting in our defense cannot be maintaine
over this winter without the minimum food neces
sary for their armies and ours, and for their mer
women and children at home. The provision o
these needs can be accomplished only by the resolut
personal service of every man. woman. and chill
in this country.
"A remark OF certain Washington official ha
travelled over to England and returned to the Uni
ted States 1t is worth repeating. Washington is