Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-20
ITALY WILL MOBILIZE
FORCE TO GET FOOD
Agriculturists Are to Be Given Spe.
cial instruction in
Work.
LABOR SHORTAGE "A HANDICAP
Mayors Of Every Town Are Ordered
to Take Census of All Farmers Of
Both Sexes and State Approx
mate Time.
LABOR SHORTAGE "A HANDICAP
ny CAMILLE C1AyFARRA.

ROME, January 1s.-The first OF a
series Of emergency war measures
tending to improve as much as circum-
stances will permit the difficult food
situation will be announced soon. The
mobilization OF all tho agricultural
forces OF the country will DO ordered
and the new army sent to work wher-
ever there exists a scarcity OF farm
labor.
According to the experts OF the Min
istry of Agriculture, tho radical meas
ure. for which there is no precedent.
was rendered imperative by the neces-
sity OF supplying the largo landowners
and tho organizations which have en-
gagged in agricultural enterprises on a
large scale with all tho labor they
need for sowing and taking in the
crop. Tho scarcity of labor also has
made imperative the coordination OF
work in farming operations.
Tho Mobilization. will take place
under tho direction OF Agricultural
Minister Raineri. who will be assisted
by few of the officers of tho Italian
general staff. The mayors of every
town will be ordered TO take the con-
sus OF all the farm labor of both sexes
mate time needed for local farming
work. The next step will be the com
pulsory enlistment of every man In a
new army which will be under the
command OF regular petty officers.
Active operations will begin early in
March. Thanks to different climatic
conditions. the harvesting season in
the south Of Italy and In the Islands
Is month in advance on that OF the
north. Consequently the authorities
expect to move the different agricul-
tural units from place to place till
every crop has been taken in. and
then repeat the operation next year
for the blowing and sowing season.
The general stafr has promised its
heartiest corporation. provided the
military situation at the front improves
or. at least, remains stationary. In
this case, 100000 or 100000 men will
be temporarily released from tho army
and sent TO work in the farming dis
trlcts. The men and the women will
be paid the prevailing rate OF wages.
The authorities are confident the plan
Will work without I hitch, and II the
results are as predicted, and IL the
pr!ze and premium system fails, it Is
not Improbable that compulsory farm
ing will be among the after-war meas
ures with which the government ex-
poets TO solve some Of the most dis
tresstng problems connected with the
resupplying and revictualing of the
country.
In connection with the present food
situation. Premier Orlando announced
IN the Chamber of Deputies that it
could not be improved even il hostili-
Ties ceased tomorrow, that the high
cost OF living and the scarcity OF all
the nccessarics OF life would continue
Tor long time after the conclusion
or peace, and that the solution OF the
problem of supplies is that to-day the
country must resupply itself or be
contented with the little that can be
imported from abroad.
AT the same time the Premier said
mat before long the people will be
called upon TO make additional sacri-
noes. and that in order TO increase tho
ration OF the men in the trenches. new
food restrictions would BIO imposed ~,
the country at large.