Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-10
100000 Bushels to Be
Sent to Keen Allies in
Fighting Form.
INCREASED SACRIFICES
STERNLY NECESSARY
Next Five Months Most Crit
cal in Respect to Flour Since
the War Began.

Within a short time-possihiy within
a week-the American people will be
called upon to impose further restrie
tons on their dietary They will be
asked TO save by conservation during
the next four months more wheat than
they succeeded in saving during the last
seven months.
They viii be told that these increased
sacrifices are absolutely necessary il
France aud England and Italy are to
be sustained in fighting vigOr during
what President Wilson believes will be
the decisive year of the war.
Millions Want to Be Shown.
Millions of Americans will do what
they are asked without question and
without complaint But other millions
are beginning to ask questions. They
are told that wheatless days and meat
less days are ''brainless" days. with the
implication that in observing them they
are brainIeSs people. They will make
these further sacrifices if convinced
that they are necessary, but they want
N'-N
why il exists. They want to be
SHOWN no. merely told.
on no subject vital to the winning of
the war does there appear greater lack
of understanding than on thai of food.
There is no subject on which it is more
necessary that understanding should be
clear This is true because solution of
the food problem involves cooperation
of all the people and their cooperation
must be largely voluntary America
not Germany. Rationing cannot be i'm
posed upon unwilling Americans by ex-
ecutive decree.
Wave of Enthusiasm Passes.
In the first wave of war enthusiasm
few stopped to inquire why. when
asked to do this or that Whatever
the government asked in the name of
patriotism the people granted. They
were willing to wait for explanations.
But the first wave of war enthusiasm
has passed War-making has settled
down into a grim. workaday business
The people still are willing to do what
ever is necessary to be done. but they
have lost enthusiasm for sacrifices
which they are told by critics of the
food administration it is not necessary
they should make. They realize that
in wartime secrecy must surround
many government activities But they
do mt believe there is necessity of
secrecy as to food
Heads of departments charged with
responsibility for feeding America and
its allies are not agreed among them
selves as TO what it is necessary to do.
or how to- do it Senators arise in
Congress and solemnly declare that
much or most of W hat already has been
done was not necessary at all If the
lawmakers and the law administrators
are unable to agree among themselves,
it is not surprising that the man in the
street is bewildered the woman in her
kitchen perplsyFi and uncertain.
Division of Food Problem.
The food problem divides itself IN
Ger three heads. each under a separate
department of the government. First
comes production, then transportation
and finally apportionment and conser-
vation- Between the Department of
Agriculture and the food administra-
ton and between the food administra-
fion and the railroad administration
there exist jealousies and spirit of
superSensitiveness. at the concealment
of which little or no attempt is made.
Pronouncements issued from one de-
partment are contradicted fatty or by
indirection in pronouncements from
another. And the pronouncements are
in such volume that 10 keep up with
them is hopeless.
But out of the weller and confusion
of conflicting and antagonistic state
ments one unacceptable fact stands out:
The months between now and August
viii be the most critical with respect
TO wheat of any since the war began;
more critical, probably. than any
months beyond them
out OF last years wheat harvest and
the small hoid-oyer from the year be-
fore there was available for export,
over normal consumption and seed re-
Guirements, about 80, 900. 900 bushels.
Wheatless days and wheatless meals
up to the present time have resulted
In reducing consumption below normal
10 the extent of about 80. 000, 900 bush
els, making $4,000, zoe bushels in all
available for export
That S2.000,000 bushels already have
been sent overseas, and il is absolutely
necessary that out of last years crop
50,060,000 bushels more shall be sent
between now and August l. That
amount of wheat must be made avail
able by further conservation by the
American peopIe-50, 900, 900 in less
than five months, as against $4,000 600
bushels in seven months
Allies Needs Will Be Sent.
The SO 900 600 bushels absolutely
necessary to keep the allies in fight
ing form will be sent The government
controls all the wheat and has the