El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-01
j. 5. EMBARGO
HURTS NORWAY;
PEOPLE HUNGRY
Government Takes Over
Control of Grain, Limits
Bread Use.
GASOLINE SHORT;
AUTOS ABANDONED
: HRISTIANIA. NorWav. n l

~HRiSTIANIA. Norway, Dec l.
The American embargo is caus-
~ ing an alarming shortage of food
in Norway. The food situation has
grown from bad TO worse ever since
the American embargo was imposed
So long as the commercial relations
could be maintained between Norway
and the United States, the import OF
food was big enough to meet the con-
sume-s' demand. Except for the
steadily Increasing prices Of all arti-
cles Of food everything could be
bought from government stores two
pounds at a time.
AS a matter OF fact, the govern
ment 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
1t only meant that Norway should
guarantee that nothing would be re-
exported to Germany. ana then Nor
way would get all il needed.
~ -doLr AuAAAE inc AASL Two mon
II has uaWned on the government tis9E
Uncle sam means business and that
Norway cannot expect special favOrs
as a favorite friend.
Government Controls Grain.
After the Importation OF grain and
flour stopped the government estab-
Lshed gain monopoly, taking
charge OF all grain imported and , O.
duced here. The farmers are not al
lowed to sell their crops 10 anyone
but the government and at q fixed
price. The nation viii be put on flour
or bread Iations. every person, a1Glt
or child being allowed IS pounds Of
bread monthly, or Is pounds of IN
sifted flour. The people. however, are
instructed to mix potatoes in the
bread dough. With tbs years crop
and the imported grain in stora ge.
Norway has enough flour till Febru-
airy or March It is hoped here that
the United States will grant export
licenses for some OF the grain bought
there by Norwegian importers and the
Norwegian government which now is
ready for shipment
Norway Is dependent on imported
sugar as no sugar is produced here.
The consumption Of sugar is still IN
limited Candy factories turn out as
much candy as before and no sugar
card Is in use here as In Sweden.
Stops Use of Private Autos.
Last summer an ordinance was
passed putting motor vehicles and
motor crafts on rations Of gasoline.
The result 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 stopped, beginning October I.
Taxicabs were only permitted TO Ope~-
ate from 6 O. m. to s p m, and the
streets In the city are now as quiet
and free from mise thew were 20
years ago.
The supply Of kerosene is becom-
ing very low With no prospect of re-
placement For fishers this is dlsas-
trous as all along the coast they are
using kerosene driven motor boats.
The country population and the poor
people in the cities using kerosene for
light and cooking are hard hit. as
every family is allowed only two gal
Ions a month.
Fat Shortage Hurts.
The scarcity Of fat is felt more and
more every day. The majority Of the
population have been using ma rgarine
instead Of butter, but now that the
raw s.uffs for this product are not
allowed to be exported from the
United States the margarine produc-
ton is reduced every week. GrOcers
have been forced TO put their CHS
toners on allowance, nobody receiv-
ing more than . pound at once. Nor
way is facing fat shortage and the
nation viii have to be ratiO7ed.
AS for fuel, the people are put on
rations, except those who can ta'-e
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
can be esta blished with the
alIies?" But no Official answer is