The Red Cloud chief., 1917-05-03
First American Shot in the Great
War Destroys a German
U.B0at.
FIRED BY Liner MONGOLIA
Destruction Of Shipping by subma.
rines Now Threatens England
With Food Shortage - Great
Britain Gets Money From
Uncle Sam.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

Americas first shot In the var with
Germany was fired on April 10. 1t
scored a direct hit and destroyed a
German submarine. The shot was
fred by the gun crew on the American
liner Mongolia when a U-boat attempt
ed to attack that vessel In the Irish sea.
The first shell smashed the p~eriscope
and after other shells were sent there
was an explosion and the submarine
did not rise again. Capt. Emery Rice
Of the Mongolia told of the incident
on arrival In an English port. 1t Is
Interesting to note that the gun that
got the U-boat had been named Theo-
lore Roosevelt by the gunners.
The destructive work of the sub
marines Is causing increasing anxiety
In Great Britain. The latest weekly
report of the admiralty shows a much
larger number Of ships sunk than did
any previous report, and on Wednes-
day Lord Davenport, the British food
controller, solemnly warned the Brit
ish public that severe privations
menaced the nation before the next
harvest was reached. This aroused
the London press to gloomy comment,
the burden Of which was that h sub
marine blockade was the most serious
feature Of the wal now and that IL
Great Britain was to be saved from
starvation and possible defeat some
thing must be done mighty soon to
counteract 1t. This something, OBJ
~viously. is the turning out from the
shipyards Of a vast and continuous
stream of tonnage, but though many
ships are being built, the shortage OF
skilled labor renders 1t impossible to
construct anywhere near the number
required. The great British navy Is
powerless to relieve the situation. Nc
one over there seems able to suggest
any solution Of the problem except tC
be careful of the food supply and pre-
pare for the worst.
The food question Is serious else
where. 1t was responsible In larg'
part for the strikes In Germany ant
is the chief cause of demonstration
that are alarming the Swedish gov
eminent. In France meatless dinner
except Sundays and holidays-begal
Wednesday, and already In the Unite'
States the hotels and clubs are cut
ting down their emu
Plans for larger crops and NOR
farm labor in America were carrie
nearer to completion during the pas
week. One notable incident was tn
departure of 500 students of the ayr
cultural college Of the University q
Illinois to help raise Canada's whea
crop. They are to be well paid an
the Dominion government will give I
each of them a homestead of 100 acres
On a moments thought such a mov'
ment as this must win approval, for
bumper crop In Canada will do IN
civilized world rs much good as on
in the United States, and the ID
minion has been depleted OF labor.
Great Britain Gets First Loan.
Speedy work Is being done In Il
way of supplying the immediate neet
of the allies of the United States. ]
the first conferences with the commi
sioners from England and france II
government was told that the mo
urgent of these needs were mon
ships and food. 1t was agreed tn
the first allotment Of the $3,OOO,OOO.U
loan would 60 to Great Britain, n
Wednesday Secretary of the Treasu
McAdoo handed to the British amba
sador a treasury warrant for S2OO,OV
600. Arrangements for disposing
the immense bond Issue are practices