Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-01-19
Washington Digest
Md|distribution Factor
In Europe's Food Crisis
Shattered Communication Lines Hamper
Market Movements; Civil Strife
Further Restricts Deliveries.
BY BAUKHAGE
Ne.Us Analyst and Commentator

ID Commentator
Here we begin to see how the twin
demons of destruction work out.
As indicated, the direct destruc-
ton of food supplies either by bomb
ing, or battle, or German sabotage
SO far has not been a major factor.
OF course, the more rapidly the Al
lies remove the Germans, the less
chance they have to steal the food or
the crops and transport them. They
had considerable time in Italy. On
the other hand, on their hurried trip
from Normandy to the Rhine the
Nazis were far too busy moving to
beg, borrow, steal or destroy. Where
they have had chance to squat as
in the Netherlands, Poland and
Czechoslovakia, the situation is
worse. But until they knew they
were going to have to get out of
country they did not wish to de-
stroy productivity and the natives
were fed. They had to keep the peo-
pie alive to support their own mill
tary and economic activity and they
expected they would have plenty Of
time to exploit later when they set
up their own new order in Europe.
The factors in food production
which suffered most were those in
volved in food processing. It is cas-
Ter and quicker to wreck flour mill
or milk plant than a farm. Some
fertilizer factories suffered, and of
course in Holland there was whole
sale obliteration of arabic land when
the dykes were blown. This is al
most permanent damage since the
salt from the sea water will sour
the soil for years to come.
Complex Economies
Cause Trouble
But there were other forces which
began to work earlier.
Europe, before the war, produced
most Of what its own people ate.
The things imported were tea and
coffee, spices, and fats and oils.
They also had to import much Of
their cattle food and fertilizer. Ger
many, striving to be sef-sufficient,
built many plants for the production
of seed oils and raised many oil
seed crops. This was true elsewhere
in Europe and because more food
value can be produced from the same
resources directly than indirectly
through raising food for livestock,
the livestock was reduced.
Under these conditions, in order
to get the greatest value out of food
products, strictest RECOMMENDATION
was necessary. When the Germans
left country and controls vanished,
conditions Immediately became
worse unless, under liberation, sta
BILE government could step in i'm
mediately and reorganize.
This reorganization was impeded
by the destruction of transportation,
the disrupted economy and, in the
case of countries like Italy, by the
effect of fascist rule which has made
the people lethargic, dependent and
impotent and, departing, left them
leaderless.
And so we see the vicious circle
in Observation-Disclosures ham,
pering the food supply, hunger and
unrest preventing reorganization.
For their own sake, the "haves"
must feed the "have-nots. Time is
of the essence, and casting bread
upon these unhappy waters will be
as profitable an investment as it is
gesture of mercy.
When General Macarthur rides up
the streets of Manila some day, we
hope not far off, he may have a
mounted cavalry escort and if he
does, three of the housekeeping
members may be veterans of the
battle of Bataan.
The First cavalry fought for
months overseas as foot soldiers. A
part Of their job happened to be the
capture of the racetrack at Taclo-
ban on Leyte. Naturally every man
cast envious eyes on some of the
horses left there.
Later the horses were rounded UP,
| and 10 and behold, among them
were three which were identified as
having belonged to the 26th cavalry
which had fought at Bataan. They
were repatriated with acclaim and
formed the nucleus of a mounted
unit which has been doing excellent
reconnaissance on the island.
So history repeats. In the Span
iish-American war of 1893 dismounted
U. S. cavalry were sent to the Phil
ippines. Later few horses were
obtained and they proved so valu-