Evening star., 1937-10-24
How War Trade Board Won
World War by Food Control

early April, but not until July was
there control over exports.
But quick results were seen when
the work got under way At the be-
ginning the German butter ration was
estimated to be about 3 ounces week
per person. A year later it had been
reduced to eight-tenths Of ! ounce.
When our control was thoroughly es-
tablished, fats, which Denmark passed
through to Germany in sufficient
quantities to feed 5000, 900 men. were
stopped; the meat ration had been cut
from half a pound per person to
ounces. including bone and waste. In
fact, exports to the Central Powers in
1917 were cut from 65 to IS per cent
under 1916 totals, due to the restric-
trails. By the end of 1917 war bread,
ton of licenses to the northern nell
potatoes end herring became the staple
diet of Germany. There was no fry
ing; 1t was all boiled. There were no
fats for civilians. Germany had It's
cess. but because it was necessary TO
pig-killing time not because OF an ex-
conserve the garbage and refuse hlta-
erto used for their food. People had
an allowance of 25 eggs during the
year. Neither coffee nor tea could
be found in the stores. For l8 months
Berlin had no pork. There was no
oatmeal; no sugar could be had by the
common people. Chickens cost $40 at
Frankfort and steak was from S4 to So
mound. Horse meat became such
delicacy that the appearance of the
most scrawny nag on the streets CT
Berlin awakened savage cravings
among many of the nearly famlshed
population.
The first list of commodities to be
licensed for export, made known July
9. 1917. was a small group, chiefly
foodstuffs, fuels. iron and steel, Ter
tilizers and munitions. On July "a the
EXPORTS Council, predecessor OF the
War Trade Board. presented to the
representatives of the four neutrals an
identical note outlining the aid our
Government would offer in supplying
foodstuffs and other commodities.
This note declared we were ready
to try to increase the well-being Of
the neutral nations, but felt IT was
only right to expect in return services
of equal value.
On August 27 an extended list OF
controlled commodities was published,
and the squeezing of the enemy and
all who aided him was tighter and
tighter. Before the war the neu-
trails were getting from the United
States, for instance. about 100000
pounds of bacon for their consump-
ton. When the war was in process.
we found that they were getting about
100000 pounds, and Denmark and
Holland are dairy countries. When
we got into the war the 100000
pounds of bacon dwindled to about
5000.
Ships we're almost as much needed
by the allies as food. The Shipping
Board was building, but to create
fleets takes time. So the United
States not only set about to get the
ships of the neutrals in Europe, but
to direct the course of world ship
ping as it touched our shores.
The program was very effective. At
time when the U-boats were par
ticularly active, Gen. Pershing needed
supplies. So we asked Spain to supply
them. Spain was playing neutral, but
the government was pro-German.
When there was a demurrer, we made
| it clear no American cotton would
60 to Spain. Pershing got his blankets
and harness, and beans and rice.
So were we able to close certain
big businesses aiding the enemy, get
American control Of others and at the
same time hit the finances Of the
central powers.