The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-03-07
'ALY TO solve
FOOD QUESTION
utilization of Agricultural
.orceS Planned as Emergency
War Measure.
EN- TO Be FORCED TO WORK
&dicaI Action Rendered Imperative
by the Necessity of Providing
larcer Landowners With Labor
n Needed to Handle Crops.

Rome.-The first of a series Of emer-
hey war measures tending to i'm
ove as much as circumstances will
rmit the difficult food situation will
announced soon. The mobilization
all the agricultural forces of the
nntry will be ordered and the new
my sent 10 work wherever there ex-
Is q scarcity of farm labor.
..According to the experts of the min
ry of agriculture, the radical meas
e, for which there Is no precedent,
rs rendered imperative by the neces-
ky of supplying the large landowners
d the organizations which have en-
ged In agricultural enterprises on a
rye scale with all the labor they need
q sowing and taking in the crop. The
arcity of labor also has made impera-
re the coordination of work in farm
& operations.
Take Census Of Farm Labor.
The mobilization will take place I'M
,er the direction of Agricultural Min
cer Rainert, who will be assisted by d
W Of the officers Of the Italian gen
fal staff. The mayor of each town
II the farm labor of both sexes in his
strict and state the approximate time
seded for local farming work. The
ext step will be the compulsory en-
stment Of every man in a new army
hich will be under the command Of
ocular petty officers.
Active operations will begin early in
farch. Thanks to different climatic
londitions the harvesting season in the
outh Of Italy and In the Islands is
aonth In advance on that Of the North.
Consequently the authorities expect to
hove the different agricultural units
rom place to place till every crop has
cen taken In and then repeat the OPP
ration next year for the blowing and
owing season.
The general STAFF has promised its
earliest cooperation provided the
lilitary situation at the front i'm
roves or, at least, remains stationary.
a this case two or three hundred thou
and men will be temporarily released
rom the army and sent to work In the
armlng districts. The men and the
yomen will be paid the prevailing rate
Z wages.
Expect No Hitch.
The authorities are confident the
Slan will work without a hitch, and
4 the results are as predicted, and IL
he prize and premium system fails,
} Is not improbable that compulsory
arming will be among the after war
measures with which the government
xpects to solve some OF the most dis
ressing problems connected with the
'esupplying and revictualing Of the
'ountry.
In connection with the present food
iituation Premier Orlando announced
a the chamber of deputies that it
,ould not be improved even IL HOSTILE
les ceased tomorrow, that the high
lost Of living and the scarcity of all
he necessaries of life would continue
or long time after the conclusion Of
,eace, and that the solution OF the
,roblem Of supplies is that, today, the
country must resupply itself or be con-
ented with the little that can be i'm
,orted from abroad.
At the same time the premier said
hat before long the people will be
,alled upon to make additional sacri-
Ices, and that In order to increase the
'ation Of the men In the trenches new
'ood restrictions would be imposed on