150 THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 



of democracy for which we have fought, these people 

 must be fed. 



"Hunger," said Robinson Crusoe," knows no friend, 

 no relation, no justice, no right, and therefore is re- 

 morseless and capable of no compassion. " Hunger will 

 endanger the peace of any community or nation. How- 

 ever we may feel toward our former enemies, the best 

 good of the world, including America, demands that 

 they have enough to eat. Otherwise there can be no 

 settled peace, no progress, no reconstruction. Fate has 

 placed largely upon American shoulders the burden of 

 helping the world's hunger over the critical years that 

 lie immediately before us. 



This being the case, we must have conservation, con- 

 servation, and still more conservation. We must pro- 

 duce more food than ever before and conserve every 

 ounce produced. As much as possible of this excess 

 should be conserved in the form which best meets the 

 needs of the situation. For use in our homes canned 

 foods are highly desirable, but for shipment abroad, de- 

 hydrated products will be particularly needed. France 

 needs steel and wood and cement and a thousand other 

 kinds of material for the rebuilding of those vast ruins 

 which once were French cities. All Europe needs cat- 

 tle, millions of cattle, to make good the present short- 

 ages and needs cattle-feed by the trainload. Ships will 

 be needed to carry our own soldiers back home. The 

 demands on shipping space will be almost beyond con- 

 ception. Whatever saves space, therefore, is a prime 

 requisite in the upbuilding of a ruined world. Since 



