Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-22
SHORTAGE OF FOOD
IS MOST CRITICAL
Hoover Blames Railroads for Lack
Of Supplies for Home and
Allied Use.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %

ASHTNGrON, FEB. *.
A food situation little short of alarming
both for this country and the Allies
has been revealed by Herbert {. Hoover,
the Food Administrator.
The most critical food period in tho
history of the United States is facing this
country in the next sixty days, MIR.
Hoover asserted in a statement based upon
n survey of the food situation both here
and abroad. So grave are the conditions
that any Untoward circumstances such as
The cutting of the transportation lines on
lard or on sea would be calamity OF
which the consequences scarcely can be
forctold
As a result Of transportation difficulties
brought on by the winters storms, food
has not moved from the farms and the
vrcat consuming centres of the country
In consequence have been exhausting their
reserve supplies, the economic ramn ca
tions of this presenting what MIR. Hoover
described rs "the most critical OF stu
atoms.
Blame for this situation is placed square
" st the door OF the nations railroads by
MIR. Hoover. This. however. is disputed
bv the Railroad Administration.
RAILROADS DEFENDED.
For the Railroad Administration the
statement WAS made that all the TOO d
that had been offered the railroads had
been moved and that the figures showed
that never before in the country's history
had so much food stuffs been transported.
IL was evident that Mr.. Hoovers state
rneslt did not at all coincide with the view
entertained by Mr.. McAdoo and his
stall
While there was no disposition on the
mart of the railrpad officials TO dispute
thc needs made known by Mr.. Hoover
IL WAS stated positively that every bushel
of ersin Offered the roads at the primary
markets had been moved Furthermore,
wassaid that il was complained that the
Food Administration had not been able
definitely 10 tell the railroads where the
food uss that il wanted moved.
Collection Of the food, IT WAS pointed
out, was UP tn the Food Administration.
I'VE don't scrspe the bin, was the re-
mark made st the Railroad Admins
trstion. 'It may be true that 5000, 900
bushels day must be moved, but II the
r>ilrosds are able 20 handle II and the
5000. 900 bushels are not delivered TO
thc railnpads il cant be UP 20 the rail-
roads
Figures At the Railroad Administration
office, i. was said, showed that 26000, 600
bushels Of grain had been moved last
weck and that 1000 carloads of food
dav were running TO New York
ALLIED POWERS ALARMED.
The seriousness of the situation con-
fronting this country and its allies WAS
evidenced by the fact that Lord Reading,
the British Ambassador; Count Di
Cellere, the Italian Ambassador, and
Andre Tardieu, the French High Com
missioner held a joint conference At the
Treasury yesterday with Mr.. McAdoo
as 10 how to get more food to their
respective countries
Mr.. McAdoo assured the allied rep
rescntativcs that SIX solid trains of 300
ears q day of packing house products
purchased for the Alnes were being
moved from Chicago and Kansas City
each dav for the next thirty days until
$4,000 tons had been bought to
s.ic lie said that from 100000
bushels az wheat, 100000 bushels of
.'s and from 100000 to 100000
bushels of corn day are being moved
from the prlmar markets to Eastern
ports