Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-14
HOOVER DEFINES
FOOD SITUATION
Allies Need Billion Bushels of
Cereals the Coming Year,
He Reports.
U. S. SURPLUS NOT ENOUGH
Needs Of Meat, Fats and Sugar Abrond
Are Enormous-Consumpt at
Home Must BE Reduced.

Washington, June Herbert G.
Hoover's report to the government on
what the United States must do II sustain
its allies with food. made public to-day.
shows that the allies and a few neutrals
which must be considered require during
the next year a billion bushels of cereals
alone and that their needs of meat, fats
and sugar also will be enormous.
! Production in the allied countries and
imports from other countries can meet
portion Of these needs America must
supply the remainder. Americas surplus
on the present scale of consumption will
not meet the deficiency, Mr.. Hoover says,
so he points out that the enormity Of the
task requires reduction of home consump-
ton in many ways
| The report closes with an appeal to the
American people to assist the food admin
istration in its efforts to increase pro-
duction and to conserve American sup
plies.
! I'VE are at war" it says. I'VE must
do what success in war demands. He
also fights who helps fighter fight.
That is the way we can all help in the
war, and If we don't help the var will
not be won
The situation abroad was outlined by
Mr. Hoover as follows:
Great Britain normally raises about
bread, France about one-nalf. The addi-
lions necessary to make up the total
quantities needed are brought in from
various other countries. But in these alb
normal times the native production of the
fighting allies is greatly reduced by the
withdrawal of man power also by reason
of late frosts this years crop in the Uni
ted Kingdom. France and Italy is par
tial failure. Opportunity to import from
certain grain raising countries, as Russia
and Roumania is entirely lacking and
from certain others, as Australia, South
America and India, is greatly lessened
on account of the long haul, for which the
ships cannot be spared.
I'm addition the actual cereal and meat
consumption of the allied countries is in
creased Jy the transfer of millions of men
from seuentary occupations to those Of
great physical activity, and by the vast
age incidental to the reedng Of the great
armies in the field. There must also be
recognized the greater demand for seed
grain to maintain the dairy and meat sup
plies and the cavalry horses of the
,armies'
Americas duty is set forth by Mr..
Hoover thus
"All those conditions throw on North
America the brunt of the burden OF sup
plying our co-belligerents with the human
and animal food necessary to maintain
their great armies in fighting condition.
as we'll as to keep alive and efficient the
families of the fighters and the great in
dustrial army at home,
The exports from America necessary
TO meet these demands. which absolutely
must be met if the war is to be won. or
even is to be carried on at all during the
inext year, must be Immediately greater
THAN they have been in normal times.
THE requirements in cereals alone for
the next year of the allies. and the few
neutrals whose needs must be given some
consideration is estimated as a Dillon
bushels. The needs of meat rats ana
sugar also are enormous. Native pro-
duction and imports from other countries
can meet but a part of these require
: ments; what is left must come from US.
vet this amour is far beyond any surplus
that we shall have if we try TO maintain
: our normal consumption Our wheat
} prospects for this year are not encourag-
!, ing A reasonable forecast would indi-
cate crop of between 650,0oo,0o0 and 200,
900, 900 bushels. We have never exported
| more than 500 900, 900 bushels of cereals in
a year, yet the needs abroad are for twice
that.
THE moral is clear; our consumption
r must be reduced. This can be done. first
= / by elimination of waste. second. by the
substitution for the kind of food needed
2 by the allies of food not so needed, but
I which we can just as we'll use. as cora for
t wheat poultry and eggs for red meat and
n so on; third, by voluntarily restricting
ourselves to a sufficient and sensible ra'
IL ton. which rather than being hurtful
: will be of advantage to us physically. and
d if done at a little sacrifice of preference
n of taste or inclination for feeling of over
n repletion will be of advantage to us NOR
ally.