194 Journal of AgricuUure, Victoria. [25 Apeil. 1917. 



COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. 



TO THE FARMERS OF AUSTRALIA 



The citizens of this fair country stand and 

 watch the progress of this mighty war as a crowd 

 watching a fire afar off. Many of their number, 

 hearing the faint cry for help, have plunged into 

 the maelstrom of death to succour human life; the 

 conflagration, notwithstanding that sacrifice, has 

 increased in vigor until to-day, eddying and swirl- 

 ing with blinding fury, it threatens to engulf the 

 whole world. 



Engrossed with the fighting, and reeling under 

 the shock of battle, the people of the allied nations 

 cannot maintain their food supplies without the 

 assistance of the Dominions. 



Upon an ample supply of food all depends. If 

 Germany falls, she will fall because she can no 

 longer feed her people. Though her legions stand 

 like a granite wall against the furious onslaughts 

 of the Allies, yet their valor will avail nothing 

 unless the 120 million people in the Central Empires 

 can be fed. And what is true of Germany is no 

 less true of Britain. Unless her 45 millions are 

 fed from overseas nothing can save her; although 

 she pile munitions mountain high, though the roar of 

 her great guns burst the heavens, though the fury of 

 her attacks tear large gaps in the ranks of the 

 enemy, unless the 45 millions in Britain are fed, 

 victory will glide from her nerveless hand. 



Australia's duty in this great crisis is 

 obvious; we must make available m increasing quanti- 

 ties the products necessary to enable the Empire and 

 Its Allies to win the War. I appeal to you, the 

 primary producers, therefore, to stand behind your 

 fellows m Europe, and leave no stone unturned to see 

 that their pressing food requirements are forth- 

 coming. 



Upon your answer hangs our destiny, and that of 

 the civilized world. 



li/^- 



PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA. 



