THE NATIONAL, GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



243 



Serbia, Greece, Roumania, and the fam- Even this program means further self- 



ine-pinched neutrals of Europe. Peace denial by the Allies next year. They are 



or war, the American people are their making this sacrifice in the common 



Allied brothers' keepers, so far as food cause. We must maintain the health and 



is concerned, for the next 12 months. strength of every human being among 



If autocracy is defeated in 1919, we them or they will be unable to put their 



will save a million American lives which full strength alongside our own in the 



will be expended if we are compelled to supreme effort. At the President's direc- 



continue the struggle until 1920. To give tion, I have assured them that "in this 



this final blow in 19 19 we have not only common cause, we eat at a common 



to find the men, shipping, and equipment table," and upon entering these confer- 



for this gigantic army, but this army, the ences in Europe we promised them that 



Allied armies, and the Allied civil popu- whatever their war-food program called 



lations must have ample food to main- for from us we should fulfill, 

 tain their strength. If we survey our ability to meet this 



We can do all these things, and I be- definite promise to them, we find that 



lieve we can bring this dreadful business while our wheat production this year is 



to an end if every man, woman, and child better than last year our production of 



in the United States tests every action other cereals is less. We have had severe 



every day and hour by the one touch- losses through drought in many sections, 



stone — does this or that contribute to On balance our resources are no greater 



winning the war? than last year. We find, however, that 



we can give this increase in food supplies, 



ships and food closely linked of 5.730,000 tons over last year, and still 



The food program is no small part of have a margin over the amount necessary 



this issue. To provide ships for our to maintain our own health and strength, 

 army, we have not only to build all that 



we can, but we must have the help of 0UR ALUES DENY themselves to 

 Allied shipping. In order that the Allies transport our troops 



may provide this, they must take food At best the Allied table will be less than 



ships from the more distant markets and ours, for the Allied peoples are denying 



place them upon the shorter run to the themselves more in order to transport our 



United States. We must decrease our soldiers. We can do no less than fill the 



imports of sugar, coffee, and tropical ships they send us. 



fruits. Of our imports, we shall apparently 



Under these conditions, the demand have sufficient sugar to maintain the pres- 



upon us is for larger supplies. The con- ent consumption and take care of the ex- 



ferences on food supply and shipping we tra drain of the Allies from our markets, 



have held in Europe_enable us to estimate instead of compelling them to send their 



our burden. Compared with previous ships to the Far East. We can secure in 



years, the Allied civilians and armies, our sailing vessels the coffee we need, if no 



own armies, the Belgian relief, and cer- one makes an overbrew. 

 tain neutrals who are dependent on us Of our own products we must secure 



require the following round amounts a reduction in consumption and waste in 



from us : the two great groups of, first, breadstuff's, 



Average Shipped Must ship Increase 



3-year pre-war year ending year ending this year over 



shipments July I, 1918 July 1, 1919 last year 



Tons Tons Tons Tons 



Meats and fats (beef, pork, dairy, poul- 

 try, and vegetable-oil products) 645,000 1,550,000 2,600,000 1,050,000 



Breadstuffs (wheat and substitutes in 



terms of grain) 3,320,000 6,800,000 10,400,000 3,600,000 



Sugar (from United States and West 

 Indies) 618,000 1,520,000 1,850,000 330,000 



Feed grains (mostly army oats) 950,000 1,950,000 2,700,000 750,000 



Totals 5,533,ooo 11,820,000 17,550,000 5, 730,000 



