Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-10

therefore a direct and personal inter-
est i'm seeing that the 1S0,00O,0OO peo-
pie in question are prevented from
starvation and are well fed. The
sooner this can be accomplished the
sooner will they return to their nor
NAL occupations and assume normal
outlook toward life and all its prob
lens.
In spite of our best endeavors,
there is going to be much suffering
across the water this winter. In one
section of Russia alone, where the
ice has already frozen the harborS
and thus prevents the Introduction
and distribution of food, there are
more than 40,00O,0OJ people who face
the cruel cold of a bitter northern
winter without adequate food or
clothing. 1t is believed that at least
lO,000,000 of these people must die
from starvation before another har-
vest arrives, thus taking toll equal
probably TO that of the battletlelds,
and impairing greatly the efficiency
of those who survive this calamity
1t therefore becomes the duty and
privilege of every American citizen
and every believer in world clVlllZa-
ton TO conserve food to the utmost
in order that a part OF our abundance
may be made available 10 thoSe VINO
have become irrational through star
walton and whose condition is pitt
able beyond our ability TO portray. In
any event il is certain that the
gaunt and frightful specter of starva-
ton now sta lks abroad over very
considerable areas of what was once
the happiest and most prosperous
continent of Europe. Under the cir
cumstances the food administration
feels that certain changes in its pro-
gram are proper and justified.
The removal of the submarine
menace makes available the album
dant supplies of wheat which have
accumulated since 1915 in Australia,
South Africa and Argentina. AS soon
as ships are available therefor part
of their treasure of this golden grain
may be poured into the lap of starv-
ing Europe. The importance of this
achievement can better be appreci-
ated when il is understood that 90
10 90 per cent of the total food in
take of the average European is made
up of wheat bread. In this country
we use, even under normal condl-
lions, but % per cent of wheat bread
in our daily ration. The availability
of wheat from the southern seas has
made it possible for the food admin
istration in this country to restore
the wheat loaf to the table or every
citizen and to Immediately abandon,
the use of wheat substitutes and vic
L
needed across the water, where the
output of milk and butter has been
restricted by wSr conditions Until 1t
IS away below the minimum line OF
safety The change in the substitute
program will also afford our own
dairymen larger supplies of wheat
offal for the maintenance OF their
dairy herds. 1t is evident that if any
of the relatively small percentage of
child life which has survived the
orgies of war IN, Europe during the
past few years is to be preserved,
that we must send them large guam
titles of butter and condensed milk.
Another benefit which comes to
our own people and to the world in
general through the armistice is the
Immediate increase in the sugar ra-
tions. 1t is now pounds and will
become 4 pounds per capita alter
December 1. 1t is hoped that ely
in the year other existing restric-
tions relative to the use of sugar
may be still further modified.
The world is exceedingly short II
the present time of meat and fats
and this condition is bound to con-
tinue for some years to come. This
is due in a large measure to the
Strengthening of the herds and flockS
of Europe and to the general de-
crease in fat production incident to
the war. Al the present time we are
allowed liberal rations in this coun-
try of fat and meat. The day is not
distant when we will probably be
called on to conserve these elements
in a greater measure than has nth
erto prevailed. 1t is needless to say
that the citizens of the United States
will respond to any such request as
this instantly, preferring to sacrifice
their own personal comfort and well
fare in any reasonable degree in or
der that the world may be made afe
from starvation.
General conservation is now an es-
sential need in our country, as is
shown by the fact that at least TO-
100000 tons of food must be sent
across the water by July list, twice
the amount we sent last year. We
must provide this food out of the
harvests which are no larger than
those of 1917. 1t is self-evident that
we cannot add to our food supply
to any appreciable extent before the
end of another harvest. 1t is true
that we can provide large quantities
Of milk, meat and butter, but to do
this we will be feeding to animals