Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-22
LARGE AUDIENCE HEARS MES
SAGE FROM BATTLE AREA BY
ONE WHO WAS THERE.
JOHN 3. LORD, OF NEW,
YORK, SPEAKS HERE
Describes Condition in Territory Over
run by Huns and Along the Fight
ing Area--Mrs. Walter Miller, Speak
ina For Food Commission, Urges
Observation Of Voluntary Rat'onIng.

GlinpscS of War-SCarrCd France, the
western battle front. American soldiers
in training over there, and England
in war time bucklng to the task Of
the production of foodstutts'
were brought to an eaSer audience at
the Y NJ. c. A. Thursday night by John
&. Lord, of New York City, MEMBER
of the national commission which was
sent TO the western front to observe
and report on conditions especially
food conditions among the soldiers.
The audience also was told why 1000
conservation was necessary by Mrs.
Walter Miller, of Columbia, Mo-. rep
resenting the national food commis-
sion.
The meeting was held under the di-
rection Of the county food conservation
committee, of which L. G. Abbott IS
chairman and food administrator. That
the public was eager to hear of condi-
tons a. the battle front was shown
by nearly 900 who packed the associa-
ton building gymnasium. The seating
the meeting arrived and some who
could not find seats had to stand.
Frishtfulness in War.
By descriptions and steropticon pic
lures Mr.. Lord showed the Hun fright
fulness in war. He showed a series
Of views taken in widely-separated
sectors both of the front and Of the
territory behind the German retreat,
which showed the devastation left in
the trail Of the invaders and of the
des ISOLATION in the battle swept areas.
There were pictures of methodical de-
struction Of French agricultural i'm
plenents, carts and vehicles; orchards
and fruit trees felled. or when the
pressure of French pursuit became too
great, Of trees girdled and killed: Of
destroyed villages and the countryside
pitted with shell holes; Of churches
and cemeteries that have seemed to be
special targets for Hun artillery fire,
and bits Of the Verdun sector where
the high tide Of German attack was
rolled back with terrible slaughter.
Make War of Terror.
"The psychology of the Hun warfare
is to terrorize the people by frightful-
ness so as to force them to compel
the English and French governments
to give UP the war;" Mr.. Lord said
This propaganda, he said accounted
for the inhuman acts against individ-
uals, the destruction Of property, and
the bombing of hospitals.
He told of an incident OF where Ger
man wounded were being cared for in
cathedral when the French drove
the Germans out Of the town so quickly
the German wounded could not be re-
moved. Retreating to new positions
the German artillery bombarded the
cathedral in which their wounded lay,
the French in the meantime attempting
the rescue Of the enemy wounded. The
building caught fire from the bonn
hardment and many of the German
wounded. as well as some Of the French
rescrers, were burned.
Gan you Imagine" he said, Our
army committing such an act even If
ordered to do so7"
Food Of First Importance.
The commission, stopping in Eng
land on Its way over, was taken to
see what that country is trying to do
to Increase It's production Of foodstuffs
Not only in agricultural pursuits, but
IN all sorts Of albor ordinarily per-
formed by men, the commission found
women. Women had turned to till the
soil and from 5000 of them doing agri-
cultural labor xbe number had in
creased to 285,OoO in eight months.
The French bread ration he said
which before the war was 80 per cent
Of the food consumed, had been re-
duced by half
Have you ever stopped to consider"
he asked. what would happen to this
country If England should fail in this
war because Of lack Of food?'
What is the USE" he continued, "os
sending men over there II there is no
bread TO feed them
American Soldiers Eager.
Mr. Lord spent a day in billets with
American soldiers. He described then,
as eager, even impatient and discon-
tented because they were not allowed
to go over the top" at once. Their
morale is excellent, and they are prim-
ed for fight. They are the same fell
lows We said good bye to-" he said
He visited the spot where were buried
the first American soldiers killed In
the boche raid Of November. The
graves had increased to eleven when tle
was there
Is Democracy Efficient?
The whole question involved in food
conservation, Mrs. Miller said, was
whether or not our democracy would
voluntarily prove itself as efficient as
the autocracy Of Germany.
There is no chance now" she said,
for Germany breaking down for the.
lack Of wheat. Our first and most
important duty then is to save wheat
for our allies and for our own SOL
dicrs With this imperative duty at
hand Is there any one 50 lacking in
patriotism tina. he would hoard wheat
flour? We have been asked to put
ourselves on Il voluntary wheat -four
| ration. Our Trouble il that we do not
realize that we are at var
Next in Importance 70 wheat liz the
saving Of fats. Germany lacks fats.
| but so do our allies. So We are agked
| to put ourseiycs on ration Of at
least one-hlf pound Of butter and
one half pound OF other fats per per-
son per week. and we are asked TO DO
almost entirely without bacon.