The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-10


tation in land We are feeding Ru-
mania slowly via Constanza on the
Black Sea- Constantinople. where
Admiral Mark Bristol commands tho
American feet, is the central distrTb-
uting point for Armenia and Alex
andretta Is the supply port for Pales-
tine.
AT each enemy port there Is con-
voy o. light cruisers or destroyers
which lands guards to protect the
food warehouses and In many in
stances especially at German ports
where Spartacist uprisings are likely.
guards look mighty good.
Now that the blockade Is lifted so
far as Scandinavia and Holland are
concerned the Germans are able in a
small measure to hustle their own
food, but we win faithfully carry on
tho agf eement and use German ships
for the transport of food to Germany.
please correct a. possible misap-
prehension in America that we art
giving food away Except in the case
of the Let's we are getting paid for
every ounce
BRITISH VIEW OF THE
FOOD SITUATION
London, April S--If we people of
Britain could only contemplate the
food situation from strictly insuiar
Viewpoint, tIitU Bot why Wodbh AtiV
future be a very pleasant future to
contemplate but the task Of the food
ministry would be very much lighter
than IL Ia. In the minds OF many, we
are living in a world of plenty. only
tempered and restricted by the med
dlesome Interference OF the aforesaid
ministry. But can we shut our eyes
at this moment to the fact that a
desperate food shortage exists in Ger
Aud vtn al bar
France and Serbia? Can we remain
oblivious to the effect this desperate
condition, both In the countries of our
allies and our enemies, threatens to
hame upon our own fortunes and
those ~ ~ A16os7
TN 04Ar ~ b creep - ye1va1A
army smeev1 seAt int0 (>se1t1a1 49,
many by tie SApeease seenonae coup
Gil In Paris reported back that Ger
many was I'm a serious situation for
want OF food. Their report added
that one of the reasons for the wide
spread unemployment in the Central
Empires was the disinclination for
work manifested by n population re-
duced to physical and mental fiaboi-
ness through lack Of proper nutri-
ment. The coming harvest. they de-
ciared, will be about half the normal
and the food lack was increasing with
every passing day.
The opinion of these British officers
was not moreiy that we should feed
Germany through humane considera-
tons, but hat the element of self
preservation should be taken into
consideration. Food must be sent TO
Germany. In their opinion, II we "a G
10 avert the peril OF a great Central
European population sinking into the
anarchy OF Russia, becoming not only
a misery TO herself but a menace To
the prosperity-the life---even, of her
neighborA The same situation IL du-
pEcated in Austria. where the pre-
war menu has become practically
pagendary.
Not only our smaller allies. but
France herself In suffering great
from food shortage, though In this
latter instance II is more a question
of deficient transportation to the dew
astated districts than one of actual
lack of food. Neither France nor
LAZY has any surplus of shipping to
divert to the transport of food sup
plies to the suffering people. Re-
member that In the case Of Serbia and
other war-devastated districts of
Southeastern Europe the harrow OF
deadly struggle has bitten so deep irto
the soil that crops cannot be pro
duced for several years to come; the
same holds true OF the devastated dis
tricts of Northern France and Bel
GUM. The problem of eeding not
only our friends but our enemies and
some OF the neutrals OF Europe Is Il
pressing and urgent one and neces-
sariiy falls upon the United States and
Great Britain alone.
The United States at the present
time is taking the m jor part In re-
yastualing. Central Europe. Britain
al this minute is sending 100. 900 tons
OF pofatoes---part Of our excess crop
to Germany Wit Rotterdam and so
900 tons of bacon and lard Besides
"a 600 tons of condensed milk and
breadstuffs have been set aside fer
shipment to Germany from Britain
Let me impress Il upon all, in
America, az well as Great Britain,
that though an armistice has been
signed and a peace soon will be, the
two great nations are far indeed from
peace conditions, They must envisage
the whole OF Europe, nearly all Of
which ID in sore straits TOR food