The evening leader., 1918-11-09
ST.BERNARDDOGS
ECONOMY VICTIMS
An but Six at Famous Monastery
Killed to Save Meat
Supply.
HOW PARIS IS REGULATED
Bread Shortage Affects the French
More Seriously Than Any Other
Meat Scarce and Costly
in Belgium.

PariS,-An but six OF the Famous
st. Bernard dogs kept by the monks
of that ancient monastery in the Alps
have been killed. Shortage of meat
caused by the war led to this mas
sacre.
The st. Bernard pass is of historical
renown. 1t connects the valleys OF
the Rhone and the Dora Baltea. 1t
vas traversed by Roman legions thou
sands of years ago. In medieval times
the pass served the armies of conquer
ors and the bands of mercenaries. Ma
noleon crossed the Alps at this point
in 1900.
The great monastery was built in
the middle of the sixteenth century.
1t was maintained for the relief Of
travellers who were surprised by snow
storms while crossing the pass. The
ct. Bernard dogs were used to find the
frozen victims of the storms in the
snowdrifts. They were specially train
ed for this work of relief and carried
the first aid to the injured in little
basket attached to their collars. These
dogs rescued thousands of human be-
iags, many of whom were of historic
prominence And for the first time in
The history of this famous monastery
the dogs had to be slaughtered for
want of food.
Human Food First Interest.
At other times a report of this sort
would create profound interest in
Paris, but at present the human race
is thinking of it's own necessities and
cares less about dog heroes living
more than 500 feet above the surface
Vt the sea.
Today the people of France are re-
Sfrfcted in the consumption of meat,
bread or any other article Of food in
the making of which dough or flour is
used, and sugar. There are three
neatless days and to prevent anyone
buying meat in advance the rule re-
stxicts purchases to 200 grams of
meat ON a day preceding meatless
day.
The sale of meat is prohibited
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
lD hotels and restaurants no guest is
entitled to more than 100 grams of
meat as part of a meal Tuesdays. This
restriction is aimed at boarding.
oven slaughter houses are entirely
closed the meatless days. Thus the
attempt is made to prevent as far
as possible any violation of the rule.
Of course any attempt at enforcing
restrictions of this sort in the prov
;rces would be needless. French peas
ants eat little meat, once or twice
week at the most. if at all.
The average Englishman consumes
much less meat. England had three
neatless days a week, applied to res
taurants and similar dining rooms, be-
Ginning in the summer Of 1917. How
aver, these meatless days were abol-
shed, the order taking effect May II
his year. In place of the former re-
Strfctions q meat card was issued.
this card entitled the holder to a cer-
sin amount of meat, which he may
'uy four specified days in the week.
Englishmen are consuming about
louble the amount of meat eaten by
the same number of Frenchmen at
present
French frugality in meat is the
more remarkable as it is accompanied
~ a similar and much more drastic
"eStrictiOn in the consumption of
aread. "k Frenchman," according to a
oeace-time wit, 'is a gentleman who
wears a decoration and orders an ex-
IN portion of bread" Bread has been
he staff of life Of the French people.
Still France is in a better position
ban adjacent countries Meat is very
'carce and costly in Belgium. In Ant
verp one has to pay 20 francs for a
onnd of meat and 30 francs for a
'>ound of bacon. In Merle, near Ant.
verp, a butcher paid 1925 francs for
two-year-Old steer. Cows are sold
or 5000 and goats for 500 francs.
Swiss Regulations Strict.
AT Val de Travers. Switzerland, two
butchers were found guilty of having
folated the government rule regu
ating the price of calves. The butch
RS were fined 1900 francs each, and
VII have to pay the cost of the trial
While 10 farmers, to whom the butch
RS had paid more than the maximum
rice allowed, were acquitted by the
Dry.
In the course of proceedings in the
ourt it was shown that an army of
Ger OF the commissary department in
'uying cattle for the army had also
aid more than the maximum price
'ermitted. Now the states attorney
going to prosecute the army officer
or the same offense for which the two
utchers were found guilty.
In Vienna meat rations for hotels
ming rooms and boarding houses
Tere cut 20 per cent, beginning July
Even meat supplies for hospitals
rere reduced 10 per cent. This
:aused increased prices.