The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-11-22
The WORLDS FOOD CRISIS.

STOCK, ana the scamperng or the German army 20 the
farther side of the Rhine make it impossible for that
country to resume hosttes on dangerous scale. The
allied nations at liberty 10 confer with compare
tive leisure the program Of peace 1t will be several
MONTHS probably before the principal features of Eu
ropean peace win be fully defined and many months
There is driving necessity for haste, in view of the
cessation of boodshed 1t is better that the work should
be done carefully in order that peace made shall
endure.
But in the matter of feeding the world there be
no delay The world is face to face with cOnster
remorseless as the Hun Famine has already grpped
large part of Europe and Asia. Hunger becoming
universal and nations will be extremely fortunate
if hunger is not succeeded by starvation and starvation
by pestilence Mr. Lloyd George describes the situation
in England attempt to feed hungry giant from
teaspoon But there at least something in the teaspoon
while Russia presents the spectacle of giant five times
large without any teaspoon The situation in northern
and central Russia commands the immediate attention
of the civilized nations Unfortunately it will be impos
sibe to carry full relief to Russia however willing the
world may be to furnish assistance.
Another region in which food is urgently needed is
that which lately constituted the battle in France
Belgium and Italy The bad conditions in France and
Belgium well known, but still desperate situation
in Italy little appreciated in America There would
be hysterca demand for the sending of food to Ger
many if the terrible conditions in Italy known here
Nearly 100000 Austrian prisoners Of war were cap
ured by the victorious armies of Gen. Diaz These pris
must be fed Then there hundreds of thousands
of destitute inhabitants of the lately occupied by
the invaders These inhabitants robbed of food
else movable Their plight is far more desperate than
that of any German for they the victims both of the
devish cruelty fthe enemy and of an equally pless
famine 1t is estimated that the Italian victory has added
about 100000 to the population that dependent
upon the allies for bread This population is rapidly
increasing account of the influx of Austrian soldiers
who are driven into Italy by hunger
There food for this population The Italian peo-
pie have been insufficient rations for many months
There is little beef veal and no pork Horse
meat costs 81 pound Eggs cost about 80 cents
each, chickens when obtainabe, 81 each coffee 81
pound, and butter, oil and milk unobtanable
cept occasionally little milk for the sick. Sugar is
limited to pound month and costs so cents pound
The prices increasing the scanty food supplies de-
crease.
How is it conceivable that the allies should divert food
to the Germans when the peoples of allied nations are
starving? How the allies facilitate the shipping of
food from neutras to the Germans when this same food
could be sent to starving peoples who have fought for the
salvation of liberty? 1t would be crime against civil
zaton indeed if the allies should be guilty Of such heart
less folly.
Cargoes fastening the Atlantic for the re-
lief of the most sorey pressed populations Mr. Hoover
is on the ground directing the allotment of the food
that must be doed in ratons for the sustenance Of
entire nations 1t is not enough that Mr. Hoover should
see to it that the peoples of allied nations should get
this foodthat the Germans should be prevented from
getting their hands upon it. He should be instructed tc
gather from neutral countries all the food absolutely re
qured to keep life in the peoples of allied countries be-
fore permitting pound of this food to go to Germany
What is victory worth if it results in the starvation
of libertys defenders, while bertys sayers are per
mitted to feed? The allies control every pathway on
every and their guns dominate the assassin nations
at every point The enemy has not yet made peace II
is only breathing spell between rounds. There has
been no knockout blow Presumably the enemy will not
come to the center of the ring for the knockout But
he is an enemy STILL treacherous, dshonorabe inhuman
foe who long ago forfeited any claim to humane con-
sderation Now that the whole world becoming hun
CRY and it is certain that millions must die of starvation
the nations that have preserved liberty and civilization
must not permit the sayers feed while their victims
stave If death must reap another harvest from this
war; let it be from the devils ncarnate who started the
war for the purpose of numbering their neighbors--
Washington Post