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 
