Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1918 — Page 2

EUROPE FACES DIRE FOOD AND FUEL SHORTAGE

Inadequate Supply of Heat Expected to Cause Much Suffering. HOW THE ENEMY STANDS People Have Less to Eat This Winter Than Last, Is Belief—Two Fodder Discoveries—Disaffection in Austria. London. — Europe is going to lead the simple life this winter and for a long time thereafter. There is not a country that does not now realize the real danger of extreme food shortage. But food shortage is not the only or in most cases the worst of the menaces. The nations face and realize as never before the exhaustion of all necessary supplies. Although food will be scarce in all countries, whether belligerent or neutral, It is doubtful whether that will impose as much hardship on people as the shortage of fuel, writes Judson C. Williver in the New York Suu. In Europe’s climate food is fuel to the body quite as much as it is nourishment. Sharply restricted supplies of food, and that of a doubtful quality and poor variety, might be endured If there were plenty of fuel. It is

w’hen the supply of fuel, both outside ‘and inside, falls below the necessities of physical effort that people begin to suffer. Europe has neither carbon for its food nor carhop for its fireplaces,jmd in some respects the northern neutrals are even worse off than the belligerents. Rations of important food necessaries have been reduced by some of them even below the amounts allowed in Germany. England is by far the best supplied country in the matter of food, and the authorities are making desperate efforts to make the population, realize that rationing will soon be compulsory unless food consumption is considerably reduced. The food authorities have announced a policy of accumulating sufficient reserve to feed the country for three months, even if no imports shall be received during this time. Question of Shipping.

In the case of England it is entirely a question of shipping. Big stocks of food have been gathered in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and elsewhere, but there are no ships to bring them here. England is probably better situated in the matter of coal supplies than any other country, but must divide with its allies, France and Italy, and so far as possible some of the neutrals hope to be taken care of from the English mines. The German food situation is puzzling. Apparently the authorities are not nearly so confident about it as they would like the public to believe. The year’s harvest turned out more satisfactory than seemed probable during the period of droughts and hailstorms in midsummer, but on the other hand reserves were heavily drawn upon before the harvest of 1917 was gathered. Reserves, indeed, may fairly be said to have disappeared. The carefully cultivated official understanding in Germany is that there •will be a better food supply this winter than last. The specific statements justifjing this expectation are highly unsatisfactory. The Munich Medical union has declared that there will be less food, except potatoes, this winter than last. Throughout Germany there is apparently a pretty general belief that this is true, and widespread demand is voiced for an increase in the allowance of potatoes. In Germany, as in England, the immediate, result office harvest -was a great increase in the marketing of potatoes with the consequence that in many places there were not storage facilities to take care of them. The fear is expressed that a not inconsiderable portion of the potato yield will be

wasted, partly because of overconsumption in the agricultural areas and partly from inadequacy of storage facilities. So from many German authorities comes the warning that despite a big yield of tubers the coming winter is likely to see conditions quite as bad regarding them, and worse as to many other things than last winter. Ominous Suggestion. The ominous suggestion is made bj some of\the German food authorities that it will not do to be too free with potatoes, because later it will be necessary to mix more potato flour with ce'real flour to stretch the supply. Also as there was a short crop of fodder throughout the country potatoes are likely to be required to feed domestic animals. The fear of such an event has caused widespread demand that more hogs be slaughtered that they may not require _ to be fed with potatoes that the peop!f will need. The number of hogs In the country has been Increasing this year, and the fact gives concern because the pig Is an active competitor of a munition worker or anybody, else In the matter of food requirements. Gerrnan authorities have determined that beyond providing a moderate meat ration the transmutation of vegetable Into, animal food is a dangerously wasteful process. So there is an effort to induce farmers and village dwellers to restrict the diumber of hogs and cattle to the point where it will

be Just possible to raise the absolutely necessary meat ration. The relation of the general economic breakdown to agriculture is indicated in both England and Germany by matters affecting the supply of agricultural machinery. In Germany there is a most serious shortage of all kinds of agricultural tools and machines, because the old ones have worn out and there is neither metal nor manufacturing capacity to provide new ones. In England the complaint particularly concerns the supply of motor flow's. The government long ago promised that thousands of these would be furnished in time to put a greatly increased acreage in cereals under cultivation in 1918. Now when the fall plowing season is on it develops that want of shipping Or other reasons have prevented the delivery of anything like an adequate number of these machines. A Dresden physician who Is quoted as an authority, has recently discussed the German food situation as regards- the requirements and supplies of various classes of consumers. He finds that children up to eight years of age are receiving a reasonably satisfactory ration, but the amount allowed -to those from eight to eighteen is utterly insufficient and that the shortage seriously threatens the physical vitality of the next generation. Some of the German jurisdictions have recently announced that newly married couples will be granted a

PRINCESS JEANNE

Little Princess Jeanne, youngest member of the Italian royal family, photographed while on a visit to wounded soldiers recently, returned from the Italian battlefront. The princess is one of the most popular members of the king’s family, especially 1 with the Italian public. She is idolized by the soldiery.

double food allowance for the first six weeks of their married life! Elsewhere provision has been made to double the food allowances of nursing and expectant mothers. The effort to find fodder for animals has started the professors on many investigations and inquiries. Doctor Degen, director of the seed testing station in Budapest, claims to have discovered two valuable articles of fodder. He writes: “The searush (JJolboschaenus maritlmus) was known, as regards the part above ground, as a fodder equal in value to straw. Recent experiments have, however, shown that the tubers growing on the roots underground are far more valuable. They come very near to the horse chestnut in the amount of raw protein, raw fat and starch contents, without the bitterness. If they are used for the manufacture of spirits the wash, either wet or drle& can also be used for fodder. “The* pond bullrush (Schaenoplectus lacustris) also contains a valuable underground organ. The horizontal roots, containing a great quantity of starch, form a pfod concentrated fodder. If used in distilleries the wash is not so valuable as that from the searush.. But in t time of need it is a raw material that ean be used for various purposes.” Milk famine confronts all Europe. The situation has long been bad, and grows steadily worse everywhere. There is constant- and increasing conflict between the various state and municipal authorities dealing with the food question throughout Germany. In this regard the Gcftnan situation is much more complicated and difficult to handle than the English. The state and municipal governments in Germany are very jealous of their authority in their respective jurisdictions, and the federal authorities

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. TNT).

dare not or cannot Impose unlversi( regulations upon them. In Saxony an rangements have been made to reiiuburse farmers who woujd import from other states cows and heifers In calf. Farmers making such purchases willreceive a premium of 20' per, cent of the pride paid, not to exceed 300. marks. This arrangement has caused violent complaint because the prices of butter and milk are already fearfully high and the consumers complain that the farmers are making Immense profits from producing them. From Frankfurt comes the report that at present milk deliveries In that city amount to about one-sixth those of peace times. Receipts scarcely suffice to take care of the privileged customers, invalids, nursing and expectant mothers, and so forth. A large share of what is actually obtained is produced by the municipal authorities from their municipal dairies and farms. It has been a very expensive method, yet the situation is so bad that the town has decided to extend it still further.

German speaking-Austria has long been jealous of the comparatively favorable food situation In Hungary, and recently the disaffection has become acute. It is charged that Hungary is feeding herself bountifully and leaving the rest of the empire to shift as it can. For whatever Hungary is willing to send into the German speaking regions outrageous prices are charged, and the subject has beep discussed with painful frankness in the legislative bodies of both states. It was said that recently lard from Hungary had been sold in Austria at nearly eight times the pries it would have cost in Hungary. The same genserai situation prevails as to many other Hungarian food supplies.

The Hungarians complain ’g’ith equal rancor that they are charged excessive prices for all manufacture) articles produced in Austria. The two governments have been trying to agree upon a general policy of leveling down the prices of both. But at this point they are confronted by the same difficulty which has been so many times experienced in Germany; no system of price .control will stretch inadequate supplies to the point of adequacy. In Holland the state’s control is be ing extended to almost all food supplies. There are indications that the rationing system is going to be established before winter shall have far advanced. The use of fat and margarine by bakers and confectioners and by hotels, restaurants and clubs in preparing food has been prohibited. The government has guaranteed prices for wheat, rye, oats, barley, etc. As to crops not available for food the areas that may be planned, have been strictly limited; in some cases to not more than 40 or 50 per cent of the plantings of normal years. A premium has been offered for increased areas of land under the plow. The ■government is going to requisition the entire crop of'sugar beets, the factories will convert them into sugar, and this will be turned over to the government at a fixed price for distribution. The price demanded of the public will not be increased.

Although Denmark is, in proportion to area and population, one of the greatest agricultural producing and exporting countries in the world, it is now confronted with shortage of almost everything. The country's nutter production has decreased alarmingly, and there is a demand for rationing. The government is undertaking to subsidize the production of butter so as to teduce prices; that is. to apply to butter practically the same rule that was applied to bread in England. The English government is subsidizing bread to the extent of about $40,000,000 a year, thus making it possible to sell the English loaf of war bread for four and one-half cents. In Norway the government and the local food authorities are working to perfect a rationing system in time to save the country from disaster this winter. At Christiania a big scheme for storing reserves of food has been worked out and some 25 warehouses in various parts of the city are being stocked. Under a law passed last May the government has establshed a monopoly of tiie Import of wheat, barley, oats, rye, beans, r>eas and lentils and other grains and meal us£d for human food except rice and potatoes.

Chance to Marry Free.

Lorain, O. —Mayor L. M. Moore of Lorain has been mayoring two years, and has not yet performed a marriage ceremony. Now he wants to marry some couple before he becomes an “ex” and before his powers as a matrimonial splicer expire. “I have read up -on the requirements and believe I can do a good job,” said the mayor. . “All that I need is a couple. To the first applying I will marry them free, and give the bride a present.”

JAPANESE BUILD 250 SHIPS A YEAR

Toklb. —Japan is able to build 25(1 ships a year, their tonnage totaling i. 000.000. according, to a government statement. The shipbuilding business of Japan has had an unprecedented growth since the beginning of the war. and on September 1 there were 113 shipbuilding slips owned by 42 firms, besides 2-1 slips which are building nnd will be ready before the end of the year. These facilities are more than three times as great as af'the beginning of the war. . Each slip is capable of turning out a ship of more than 1,000 tonnage in less than a year.

LONDON CLUB for AMERICAN OFFICERS

« VERY officer of the United |" —States forces who comes to - London is bidden welcome in one of the finest mansions the capital can show, , V and it is in some slight return for all the clubs and private hospitality that Englishmen have always received in America that the house has been turned into an American Officers club, writes J. P. Collins, London correspondent of the Boston Transcript. As such the king and queen opened it with a visit of inspection and approval without formality, and declared their pleasure that it had retained the homelike atmosphere. That, in a word, is the main charm of the place, and the donor, Lord Leconfield, has added sunshine to daylight by making the gift complete, for he has put not only his house but its contents at the disposal of the committee concerned. Leconfield house is favored in its situation.’ It backs upon old Chesterfield house, where the writer of the famous (and infamous) letters kept Doctor Johnson' waiting on the mat a century and a half ago, until the great Samuel turned in his wrath and indited a letter which is worth all his lordship s epistles combined. You may read in these same epistles all about the glories of Chesterfield house and what it was meant to be; but it cannot compare for comfort with its neighbor, and a club without this quality of comfort is no club at all. It stands off Curzon street, the street where Smollett starved, Disraeli died, and Becky Sharp cut a fashionable and dashing figure before her great collapse. It is the high street of Mgyfair, which is the most privileged and cozy of our London parishes, because it skirts the best end of Piccadilly and the royal quarters, and puts you within five minutes of Whitehall and everywhere that matters, by means of a pleasant saunter across the green park.

Lord Leconfield is a nephew of* Lord Rosebery, and a cousin to the late George Wyndham, the courtly statesman and critic. His lordship is a pleasant blend of both these interesting figures, except that he has never shown the Primrose Earl’s turn for graceful oratory, and revealed compensating good sense by leaving politics practically alone. He has served in the First Life Guards and commanded the Sussex Imperial Yeomanry; besides which he saw fighting in South ’ Africa, and got a wound there. All his proclivities are for travel and sport. He inherits from the third Earl of Egremont all the glorious Turners at his chief country seat, Petworth in Sussex, and his family have always had an eye for a good picture. It is all the more gratifying and generous, therefore, that in handing his town house over, he has left his ancestors and their friends undisturbed upon the walls; so that the new inmates for so long as the war may last, and perhaps a little beyond, will find stately company in some of the best-known master nortraits by Van Dyck and Sir Peter Lely.

This very generosity, however, was an occasion of misgivings, for the rarities and nick-knacks that make for distinction and Interest in a private abode may be redundancies or even a nuisance tn a club. When Lord Leconfleld, as an old Pilgrim—and a founder, by •the way—asked his brother Pilgrims to take the place and the scheme in hand, he gave them carte blanche to do as they would with the furniture and belongings. They boarded up the

Great Water and Timber Waste.

Of the 6.7(X).000-horse power of water power in the United States, all but 6,300,000-horsepower is running to waste. 1116 water is at present locked up against utilization by the laws governing the forest reserve, the generab public domain and the navigable streams, says Leslie’s. Congressmen have hot hesitated to advocate higher rates on mail matter of the secondclass, bfit have not found time to open up these water powers so that print paper can be made cheaper for the

valuable library, especially a certain case whose contents are “worth their weight,” as the saying goes; and in front of this, as a suitable screen, or cover, they placed a life-size portrait of another famous Pilgrim, Lord Roberts, and no more popular figure than “Bobs” could grace an assemblage of service men. The committee made further alterations in the same key. They stored much of the costlier and more Cumbrous furniture and replaced it with an ample supply of cozy armchairs auRT lounges. And with a shrewd eye to their surroundings, as well as the caliber of the men who are to put them to use, the committee have seen that everything Imported, whether for use or ornament, answers to the demands of taste as well as utility, with the result that every room, from the dining room to the card rooms and the office, looks as if it were planned in the piece, and a member of this new club, therefore, can invite a guest with the feeling that he is doing the honors of a great house and not a compromise between a hotel and an institution. There is nothing of the stereotyped or codified caravansefal about Leconfield house.

Without any conscious effort whatsoever in this direction, the committee has certainly contrived a result which leaves no room for qualms as to the hospitable effect produced. It is recorded of the last of Egremont already mentioned as the patron of Turner and Constable and many a 'great artist besides, that on his recovery from illness he celebrated the fact by entertaining four thousand people to dinner, and such was his reputation as a host, that half again this number of his humbler neighbors attended in addition ; nor were they mistaken in their man, for he sent out orders at once and made room for them all. In a house where such large traditions reign, it would be out of place to put the new inmates to any inconvenience or uneasiness as to terms, so there is to be no subscription, and though it Is considered wise to Institute a modest scale of tariff charges, it •would come nearer the aims and Ideals of the committee to offer “open house” if this were possible. As one of the committee said to me, “We want to lose money on it, instead of making it,” and this expresses the originating idea in an appropriate, spirit.

There is to be no embargo upon membership. So long as a man holds a commission in the United States army or navy he is a welcome member during his stay in this country, and the hope is, as the membership grows, to make the scheme keep pace with the demand by bringing neighboring houses into the scheme, with Leconfield house as headquarters and a social center. But the ruling idea is not limited to Mayfair or even to London by any means. It is hoped, and all the evidence are tending to justify that hope, that the club will prove a stepping-

publishers. It has been estimated by Secretary of Agriculture Houston that there Is enough timber going to waste ih the forest reserve and on cutover lands to supply wood pulp indefinitely if the question of its manufacture by water power could be solved.

Sensitive.

“Father,” said the small boy, "what is a snob ?” “A snob, my son, is a chap who has been snubbed so much that he’s laying for a chance to get his lick In first”

stone into the best society in the kingdom, and that well-known hosts and owners of great houses in town and country who have a trout stream or a golf course or a bit of good shooting at their disposal will come forward and offer a week-end as often as possible to a party of guests from Leconfield house. Distinguished Pilgrims on this side are setting the example. To this end, an information bureau has been started in order to put every member so desirous in touch with a round of golf, a game of tennis or polo or rackets, a day’s shooting or fishing, or a car ride as far as the present regulation supply of petrol allows. An American bar adds to the verisimilitude of the scheme, and an expert dispenser of the Bacchic mysteries has been put in charge; while the lounges and the library are already reeking with all the best and liveliest periodicals of both hemispheres. Once a week there will be a ladies’ night, with a ladies’ hospitality committee in charge of the arrangement. =. '

The first thing that struck me as I entered was the grouping of colors at the head of the staircase, and this sight of a well-hung Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes blent in the vividest and newest of Silk and in complete repose, took on a healthy aspect of permanence. Usually in London -you sec them flying mast-high above our nest-known buildings on a royal birthday or the Fourth of July,, but to see them grouped like this everyday of the YVeek about the bust of Pallas, goddess of defense, at the head of the handsome main staircase, lent a touch of delicious completeness to everything. The same thoroughness has been carried out in the fitting of the billiard tables, with an eye to the fine points of difference between the American and the English game; and upstairs on the bedroom floor, every touch is there to remind a guest on waking that he is not roughing it in a “dug-out” but taking his ease a vast deal nearer “home.” All this dawned upon you without enforcement during an invitation visit the other day, and the quality of the lunch and its presentment were sufficient reassurance as to the cuisine, the service and the cellar. Mr. Harry JI. Brittain, perhaps the best-known Pilgrim, presided as chairman of the club and the hardest worker in connection with it, and he showed in his remarks of welcome how enthusiastically the project has caught on with hi* brother members ever since Lord Leconfield set the ball a-rolling. He spoke of the everlasting debt of gratitude he owed Americans since the day whea he landed on .your shores, an adven-ture-loving Oxford graduate twenty years ago, only to find, apparently, that America had no conception what the word stranger meant. He added that he was ambitious, he and his fellow promoters, of making the club a link of the highest value between the two countries and the two services—a means of repaying the great and many kindnesses that British visitors have received out West —and a medium of sympathy not merely in connection with the war but everything else that appeals to English-speaking men today.

Where Noah Disembarked.

Nakhitchevan, or N,akhlkhevan, Armenia, on the slopes of Ararat’s greater peak, claims to be the oldest town In the world. The name of the rude little village means' “He descended here,” and the townspeople allege that on that very spot Noah disembarked with his family and animals and set up housekeeping, “planted the vine,” made wine and celebrated. The tomb of Noah’s better half is at the base of the mountain, and a fragment of what is said to have been the “true ark” is preserved in an Armenian monastery. Noah was not buried In “the world’s oldest city,” but near Damascus. He was a very large man, the natives will tell you, and as proof point to his supposed grave, which is almost fifty feet in length. The Armenians also locate the Gat-den of Eden near Ararat.

Cupid Comes a Cropper.

Ida incidentally indicates interest in ices. Irving, impressionable, infatuated, injudlclbusly invests. Ida’s indulgence in ices is inordinate, insatiable. Irving, Impecunious, Ineptly introduces inexpensive innovations. Ida, instantly irate, indignantly impeaches Irving’s Iterated infatuation, insinuating indifference, inurbanl’ty. Ida’s Infantile invective Illuminates Irving’s innermost intelligence, inhibiting 1 ; infatuation, intercepting Intentlops.— Christian Register. „