Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-07
|IP SHORTAGE KEEPS
DOWN GRAIN EXPORTS
5hipments to Allies 100000
Bushels a Month Under
Requirements
EUsT TIGHTEN BELT
1ttle Relief From U-Boat Menace
W Can Be Expected Before
August
WASHINGTON. March :.

WASHINGTON, March T.
Due chiefly TO lack of tonnage, Amerl-
- Is falling behind in grain shipments
! 20 the Allies at the rate Of 100000
R .pushels a month.
The situation IL giving food admin
lHtration officials concern now that tho
<Question of rail movement OF foodstuifs
~ being solved. Meat shipments are re-
K duced to make way for wheat, troops
and rupplies..
y The submarine continues 20 wreck
havoc In shipping. It is II vital ques-
: hon for America and the Allies for the
next few months, as evidenced By Sir
Eric Goddess suggesting that II will bo
some time before the American ship out
( put will be such az to make destruction
and production cqualizc
That there has been too much camou-
mage about American prospects Is hintod
IN Goddess comment about glowing
reports from the American press. while
ofiicials here admit that the expectations
OF the United states have been overes-
timated. America will have TO take
cinch In the belt for the next few
months
II will be August before many OF the
shipyards are running full tilt, as some
of the eastern plants are still under
estimated that July will see the plants
going at o maximum.
LOSSES DOUBLE NEW SHIPS
Of1cials figures show that England
last year constructed 100000 gross
tons of shipping. the United States L.
, 034, 900 and other countries 100000. In
: that period Germany sank estimated
4 tonnage Of 100000 gross
has been estimated as high as 100000
tons but the best obtainable estimates
now indicate that two and half to three
or four million gross tons will be the
mark. English figures are not obtain
able here. though estimates place her
output at 100000 gross tons this year.
Thus It will be seen that submarine
destruction at last years rate would
still outstrip the production.
The foregoing gives perhaps the
Z gloomy side of the picture. II Is sit
nation full CT trouble and one which
only time will change. Epgand's labor
4 difficulties in shipyards are hampering
the production, and the American labor
problem is a difficult one. Unskilled la
Dor has to be mixed with skilled. And
I, there is "A heavy oyerturn. One plant
had 1400 per cent overturn this win
ter
To offset this shifting of labor off,
ciais say. standard wage must be
adopted. And labor must be inspired
with the thought that its task is every
bit as important as the front-line trench
work.
SUNNY SIDE OF PICTURE
The sunny side of the picture is this :
American.Allied naval efforts are ac-
oounting for many submarlnes--as many
~ Germany can build. And improve
ment Of devices used in anti-submarine
y work Is having an effect in rounding up
the U-boat
i . Furthermore, destroyer production is
enfuahy progressing very well and. with
the Increase Of the destroyer patrols.
the C-boats work will become constant.
ly more difficult.
August is the generally accented date
~ which the submarine menace will be-
Sin TO wane. That is the time when
sehip production will begin TO be hcav-
"A lest. and by that time DESTROYER efforts
win be improved materially.
~ However, the months between now
ana August are destined to be trying
tonnage Is short compared with the cry
4 Ing need for 1t to supply the Allies, 10
ship our forces and to keep them sup.
4 piled
Once past this period. better sailins
II ahead American ship production
i next year will be ahead Of destruction
< according to all estimates.
The only question is: What do tn,
I next few months hold in store In the
\ general situation?
DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED
St Some idea of the resent difiicultie.
y n obtainable from the fact that in Feb
Y ruary the United States shipped $50.
200 tons of grain to Europe whereas
ia goal was 500, 900 tons. Conservation
hare is showing up well. for the United
tGfates has shipped 100000 bushels
Nabove It's normal cxportable surplus ir
VIE last eight months.
!. A new step in aiding the food conser.
walton movement has been taken In the
( form of an agreement with Canada
s whereby fishery laws are modified SC
mat the American-Canadian fish pro
Z auction can be increased.
81 The preliminary inquiry regarding this
"A import trade of the United States has
been completed, and the Government is
progressing in the matter of getting
& Aliied-American tonnage from countries
whose exports will be reduced.