New-York tribune., 1918-03-19
American Shipments Only
Iwo-Thirds of Barest
Requirements
Tardieu Urges
Stricter Economy
Pictures Sacrifices o
France at Baltimore
Trade Conference

BALTIMORE, March 1S."For the
last three months he shipments Of
cereals from America to Europe have
been shor. by about third of the
supply recognized as indispensable to
strictly compressed needs" Andre Tar
dieu, head of all the French missions
in the United States, said at banquet
of the Southern Commercial Congress
here tonight.
The dinner was the elimination of
conference of delegates to the con-
gress from South Atlantic and Gulf
Coast states, called to consider the
theme, "Ships in the Winning of the
War and in Trade Expansion After the
War" The result Of the conference
was the appointment of q committee
headed by Barton Myers, of Norfolk,
Va, which was directed TO make an
exhaustive study of commercial condi-
tions that will prevail after the war.
the French high commissioner
speech was in a serious vein. Relating
in detail the severe ard long contin-
ned sacrifices of his people. he called
upon Americans to endure whatever
further restrictions are necessary to
send more provisions to the Allied ma
tons. III particular, he said America
must do more toward reducing con-
sumption of cereals and increasing
cereal exports to France.
You must do it because it is a case
Of necessity. because it must bc,done."
asserted NJ. Tardieu "You are aware
tnat the French nation has always lived
mostly on wheat bread Our pre-war
consumption was 1000 tons per
month. Our present consumption has
been now reduced 20 $4,000 tons, a
reduction of about 25 per cent.
OF course. it vas impossible TO re
duce 10 any great extent the bread ra-
ton OF tie soldier That ration, which
amounted in the first years of the war
progressively cut down to little over
twentyone ounces.
But, on the other hand, as regards
the civilian population, we had to es-
tablish the individual bread card, al
lowing only about tel. ounces per day,
which means barely the third part of
the average daily bread consumption of
he French peasant or workman be-
fors the wa9.
Forced 20 h;ii Cattle
Il heard that aore Americans. wno
.vere IN France few days ago, have
1eea wondering why We have not kept
thc meGtieSs days
This suppression Of meatless days
iesulted from the lack of cereals for
the cattle feeding. which involved the
killing OF cattle, ard the killing OF cat
tie was meant, on the other hand to
bring about a reduction in the human
consumption of these same cereals.
may be allowed to add that, OF late, my
good friend MIR. Hoover insisted that
as far as possible, we ought to try
to substitute the meat consumption for
The consumption of cereals.
We have reduced our sugar con-
sumption by - per cent: cur rice con-
sumption by 81 per cent; our imports
q dried vegetables have been reduced
- 81 per cert; Of oils and fats by =
tsr cent
The people VINO have imposed such
Sacrifces on themselves are d peo-
pie who have kept lighting fo1 almost
1our wears a people who have mobi-
ized 7,C0o,O coo men from a population
which, excluding the invaded terri
tories, does not exceed 35,000.0Oo IN
habitants, a people whose women and
children have taken the burden of in
dustrial and agricultural work left by
lie men VINO joined the army. people
"hosc army lost over i million men