Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-20

had been curbed in their efforts rob the people.
Food was the most powerful weapon known to
warfare. The absence of food the most powerful
enemy of any country. The Russian revolutions
were caused by a lack of food in some districts,
when other districts had plenty.
Must Use Rigid Conservation.
Food will win the for the allies, and Amer
lea must produce this food Just now, the impera-
tive necessity is for wheat in the entente countries
France must have 75,000,000 bushels of wheat be-
tween now and the next harvest, she must see
the wonderful fighting qualities of her magnificent
soldiers and the marvellous spirit of her women
broken and rendered almost useless in the struggle
now going on. France formerly produced 5000
900 bushels of wheat per year. but all her men are
in the army except the old and in this emergency
the raising the food. But the task is
too much for them. They turn to America for
succor, and America must now come to her aid.
Mr.. Fort said the most wonderful speech, as well
as the shortest he had ever read, delivered by
General Pershing, when the American commander
visited the tomb of Lafayette. Reverenty laying
a wreath of flowers upon the grave, General Perish
ing with uncovered head said:
Lafayette. here
And that sentiment be cherished in the
hearts of all Americans toward the Frenchi The
Americans who visit France away with a
feeling of the deepest humility at the sublime
fdence reposed in the Uaited States by the French.
The attitude of the French is this:
America is here; all will now be well!"
And it would be the greatest of tragedies ever
suffered by the French people If America
to fail her now, in her hour Of direst need. The
loss of that sublime confidence in America would
mean loss 10 tnlS nation tnat nothing could ever
compensate os&people for
Must Send Allies Wheat
While England is producing much food as be-
fore the war the supply is not adequate to her
needs. She must get great portion of her food
from other countries. Italy is in the same posi-
tion. Thus America at once becomes the treasury
and the granary OF the allies France and the 9th
allies will require 100000,000 bushels of wheat
between and the next harvest There is
wheat in Australia and Argentina, but this cannot
be transported because of lack Of ships. America
must fill the gap and keep her allies the fighting
line. The allies want food than they want
money, men, supplies.
There in America January l approximately
250000,000 bushels of wheat. Ordinarily this
would be just about enough to meet the needs of
this country in peace times. America must spare
her allies about 100,000000 bushels of this wheat
and this can only be accomplished by sharp re
duction in the consumption of wheat in America
This is what the people must do if they expect to
win the war, for the outcome of the great strug.
gle will depend upon how handle our wheat sup
ply between now and the next harvest time
And we must not fail allies. America en-
tered the war because Of the deep conviction that
the freedom and happiness of our country was en-
dangered It was a popular dellsion on the part
Of many that we entered the to help the allies
But the real influence the preservation OF our
own national life, The allies have been fighting
the battles OF America since the outbreak OF The
war II is now the turn OF America help fight her
battle for freedom.
absolute and lmpsratis WI Vial s factor
IN the Winning of JIG -