Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-27
STOMACH Discomfort
GREATLY TO Be FEARED
More Dangerous Enemy to Success Of
Allies Than Discomfort
Of Brain.
FARMERS MUST COOPERATE
Outcome Of War May Ultimately
Hang on Question Of Food Supply.
British Minister of Agriculture
Sends Message to American People.
IBy Associated fress.l

LONDON. June 2s.-"Discontent OF
the stomach is moro to be feared than
discomfort Of the brain--that is why
wo value the cooperation OF American
farmers" said r. E. Prothero. Min
lister Of Agriculture. to the Associated
Press to-day. Tho outcome of tho
war;" he continued. may ultimately
hang on the question OF food sup
plies. and the American farmer is al
lotted the essential part to play In
the great struggle for freedom.
ITO vindicate the cause of humanity
and national liberty. the great democ-
racy OF the Western world. trus to
It's traditions. has taken it's stand on
the side Of the allied peoples
president Wilson. in his address of
April Is. puts to tho forefront an ap-
peal TO the farmers. He bids them TO
carry on to their plow lands tho same
spirit that animates their brother al
lies in the trenches, on the sea and
In munition factories. Tho farmers
task is to make hills. plains and valley
stand 80 thick with corn that thoy
shall cling. Yet tho man who drives .
pillow Is helping az is tho man who
shoulders a RHO.
Tho need of food for man ana
beast is great whether peace IL won
or war prolonged"
WHAT KINGDOM Is DOING
FOR FOOD PRODUCTION
Replying to question az to what
the United Kingdom Is doing In tho
way of food production. Mr.. Prothero
said that fully one-third OF labor
usually employed on land has been
taken for war work. ''Shorthanded,
harassed by a hundred new difncul.
ties. the farmers arc doBgedly strus-
Cling to increase grain production by
half" continued tho minister. up
wards OF 10000 women in England
and Wales are toiling on land. hard and
continuously. We have quadrupled
our garden plots. After a hard days
work. men return to their homes to
labor with their wives.
Everywhere there Ia determination
to cat within tether. however 1t may
be- Brewing has been reduced to q
minimum. This is a serious deprivation
to men working at furnaces. in fouA-
dries and harvest nelds.
I'VE are further contemplating q
drastic reduction Of our live stock. 30
human food.
There is risk that the shortage Of
food may strain endurance to tho
breaking point There is yet no indi-
cation that we even have distantly ap-
preached that point. but endurance
might snap IL. for instance, the milk
supply failed. because then lives Of
little children would be threatened.
Thus there is a greater question In
volved in food supply than tho loss
OF ordinary comforts of life, or even
reduction in Its accustomed necessi-
ties. For this reason II is welcome
relief to us to know that the farmers
Of the United States are cooperating
with the allies; that they fully realize
tho essential part they play in this
struggle for freedom; that they are
bringing into their work tho spirit Of
selfsacrifice and endurance and that
they are determined to put out tho
last ounce OF their strength to win tho
war on the plow lands OF the United
States. Hero and there God speed the
plow!"