OUR FOOD SUPPLY IN TIME OF WAR 327 



Gambling in wheat, which would surely take place 

 in the case of uncertain supplies from abroad, would 

 be largely checked, and what is important, the know- 

 ledee that this store of food was safe within our shores 

 would stave off panic among the people with all its 

 serious effects.^ 



Now this is of the greatest importance, as it is 

 considered by all naval authorities that the danger 

 connected with our food supply would be greatest 

 during the first few months of a war. Admiral Close, 

 speaking at the meeting referred to, said : — 



" The struorgle and dang-er will be in the first month 

 or six weeks of war. If we can tide over that, you 

 may then talk about convoys ; but during that period 

 the whole strength of the Admiralty will be strained 

 to dispatch our ships to sea ; for to engage and defeat 

 the enemy must be the first consideration, and the 

 protection of our merchant ships the second considera- 

 tion." 



Our Navy and Army estimates for the financial year 

 (1904-5) amount to the vast sum of ;^65, 789,500. It 

 would seem but a common act of prudence on the 

 part of a government to take the few millions required 

 from that sum, or to provide them by a separate vote 

 — the issue is so vital it is immaterial which — for the 

 purpose of mere insurance against famine and panic 

 during the first few months of a war. 



In any case, those classes now so indifferent to 

 agriculture — from the man in the slum to the greatest 

 capitalist — should see how closely their interests are 

 connected with the state of that industry. 



Adam Smith, in his advocacy of free trade, makes 



^ Leiter's gamble in wheat, though it failed, caused a rise in price in 

 this country which we could not prevent. 



