The Pulaskian., 1917-08-24
Commodity.

 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 Of shipping as is required from North At 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 from that quarter will not be available ID Europe until next spring. As already said, all the allied countries are and have been for some time vigorously ad- ministering and economizing their food. In Belgium, the relief commits sion has been compelled to reduce the consumption of cereals by nearly 50 per cent; this brings the food supply so low that the population are in- capable of labor.
 From the above tables 1t will pc seen that on normal bases of consump- tion the total allied wheat import re- quirements are 577000,000 bushels against a North American surplus or 2O9,OOO,OOO bushels-and from our United States supplies we must re- serve a 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 q deficit of over 400,0O0,OOO bushels In the other cereals used in Europe mostly for animal feed, the import necessities of the allies on nor nal consumption basis are about 674,- OOO. GOO against a North American sur" plus of 950,000000. But again re- serve for neutrals and increased "ear- " over" will absorb all the margin. Tn any event 1t means we must multi ply our exports of these cereals 20 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 of 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 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 l American knows that it is infeasible 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 great deal can be accom- plished. On the other hand, deficit of 400,000.000 bushels can be at least partially overcome if we can increase our exports from SS,00O,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 al- ready difficult situation 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 creasing in Europe, but the average weight and the annual output of dairy l products per animal, are decreasing.
 A careful estimate of the worlds food animal position shows the follow ing position:
 i Decrease
 1 Increase or In other
 decrease Decrease countries
 United western including Total net
 States allies enemies decrease Cattle 7,09o,o00 s42o.0o0 26.7 600 2S. .os0 GOO Sheep 100000 1T500,000 34000. 900 54, 300, ,o0o Hogs 6,275,O 7.100,o00 S1,6o0.000 S2. .425. .000
 ssO2O.OOO s2.s5o. 900 115, ,oo5, 600
 The problem facing the American