Show HOOVER TELLS ELS OF I FOOD SITUATION i 1 I 1 k Administrator Administrator- Issues Message on Conservation t IS GREAT PROBLEM OF W WARS WAR R 1 Americas America's s 's Production r dU and N. N Needs of t the theS I S Allied Nations Set What Forth Forth What 4 1 f We Must Do Do Doto to Keep Wolf From the D Door or b f Y I Washington T Aug f O C. C f Hoover United States food administrator adminis- adminis t l' l today Issued to the American public his statement nt covering ering the time food situation us as It now exists am and the time necessity ne ne- I of conserving the food resources resources re- re sources of or the nation to provide for forthe the future during the continuance ance of ot the war The statement follows t. t Food Is alwa always s 's more or less of a af f problem In every phase of Its j 1 1 tion handling and consumption It isa Is Isn f n a problem with eYer every farmer former ever every transporter and seller ever every house house- holder It Is a problem with every town state and nation And now very conspicuously It Is a problem with three great groups of nations namely the allies the central empires and the neutrals In a word It Is a u great International International International Inter Inter- national problem The food tood problem today of our own nation therefore has hus as Its most conspicuous conspicuous con con- phase an International c charac- charac mra ter tel A sufficient and regular supply of food for the thc maintenance of the great field armies of our fighting allies and of their no less great armies of working men and and working women In Inthe inthe 1 the war Industries and finally for the maintenance of the women and children chil dren In the home bouie Is an absolute necessity ne ne- second to no other for the successful prosecution of the war for liberty In the We providing of this food for the great allied food pool the United United Unit Unit- ed States plays a predominant part With the present diver diversion ion of tens of millions of men from the farms into the fighting an and al armies resulting re re- suiting In a marked lessening of food production am and the present necessity of Increasing the daily ration i of other millions of men turned from sedentary occupations Into those of strenuous ph physical labor resulting In a marked Increase of consumption this deficiency between the the food needs and th the food lood production of the allies becomes greater great great- er than ever with the consequence of ofa a Ii large Increase In the food quantities Imperatively needed from the United States If the allied armies are to be beable beable able to calr carry on W Worlds World's Larder Examined This is a general statement of a 3 eon con condition which only needs to tor be elaborated elaborated In detail to show just what we weI I h im have veto to do o The tine time has come when this detailed st statement can be made nade Our l harvest a and d the harvests of Europe Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope rope can call now b be forecast We iVe can also survey smyer our combined stocks of food animals tin in other othe words the size o of that part of the worlds world's larder on which we and the allies ames can draw dray for forthe forthe forthe the next twelve months can now be es es- es- es This estimate sl at once that It contains too little for our own and our allies us use unless we nil all administer administer administer ad ad- minister the thc supply with the greatest care and wisdom lh The allied peoples nr are energetically undertaking this ad ad- ministration It lies now with us to todo todo todo do our p part rt If we fail fall the time people of the allies cannot be maintained at war Their soldiers cannot fight without food A certain definitely determinable ble part of that food must come ome from us Let us then e examine carefully the worlds world's larder as it It appears toda today or orKO orso orso so KO much of It as Is s at our disposal I propose to review the situation first as regards the cereals second as regards food animals and their products products prod prod- third as regards sugar fourth as DS regards vegetables fifth as regards fish and sea foods and finally as regards regards regards re re- gards our duty In the matter Cereals The 1917 harvest hanest Is now so far advanced ad ad- advanced that we may compare It with previous production and with the demands demands demands de de- de- de mands which are going to be made on It Table No 1 Is given to show the normal peace pence sources of the annual supplies of France Italy the United Kingdom and Belgium being an n average average average aver aver- age of the three three- year three ear war pre period It will be seen from this table that that the normal Imports Imports' or of wheat heat ar are I bushels and of other cereals bushels The estimate estimate- of the 1017 1917 harvest In the allied d countries based upon crop reports from these countries Is as follows Probable Av nor- nor Deficiency Com Com- 1917 pro- pro mal pro- pro In ducHon due to to war Wheat Corn i Oats I Barley 1 Rye Total In order to provide normal consumptIon tion It would therefore be necessary to Import In the next 12 months a n total of ot bushels of wheat and bushels of other cereals The prospective position of our own and the Canadian harvest Is given glyen In table No 2 Our crops especially our om corn crop cannot yet be considered as ns certain but If all mature safely North Amer Amer- lea ica will have an nn apparent surplus of wheat of bushels and of other cereals of oC about D bushels Demand on Our Crops The allies are Isolated from those markets other than Canada and und the TABLE NO- NO 1 A. A Imports Net Imports Imports Commodity Production tram from from Other Con Con- U. U S. S Canada Sources Wheat Corn Oats Harley Barley L C Rc Il OOl Total 8 OO 1 OO OO TAB TABLE LEN NO o. o 2 4 3 w Average Probable Add po possible J j Probable Normal U. U S. S U. U S. S Canadian Commodity U. U S 1917 Consumption Surplus Surplus Wheat C Corn r Oats Barley D I. I Ry r 0 0 Totals 55 I l United States Slates on which they were accustomed ac ne- to rely before the war The Russian supply T cannot be got out and Rouman nn supplies are In the hands hands of the central empires The vo voyage a e from Australia Australia Australla and India Is three times as long and therefore requires three times as many tons of shipping as Is required from North Atlantic Atlantic Atlantic At At- lantic ports It Is also twice as dangerous dangerous dan dm- because of the longer lower exposure to submarine attack There Thele has has' been beena a large failure In the South American countries and the hc new harvest from that quarter will not be available In Europe until next spring As already said a nil all 1 the allied hilled countries are and have been for some time rigorously administering administering ad ml- ministering and economizing their food In Belgium the relief commission commission commis commis- sion has been compelled to reduce the ther r po consumption of cereals oy DY nearly n ou per cent this brings the food supply so low that the time population are arc incapable incapable incapable in in- capable of labor From the above tables It ft will be he seen that on normal bases of consumption consumption consumption tion the total allied wheat Import requirements requirements requirements re re- are 57 bushels against Hg a a North American surplus of bf bushels bushels and and from our United States supplies we must reserve re- re serve erve a certain amount for neutrals from which we receive vital supplies and also an amount to protect our stocks h better next year than this last There Is therefore on normal l consumption con con- a deficit of over bushels In the other cereals als used in Europe Europ mostly for fot animal feed the import necessities of the allies on normal normal normal nor nor- mal consumption basis hasis are about against n a North American surplus surplus surplus sur sur- plus of But again n a re reserve reserve reserve re- re serve for neutrals and Increased carry carry car ry over over will absorb nl all the margin In any event it means we must multiply multiply multiply multi multi- ply our exports of these cereals 20 O times H However weyer upon the basis of our present crop prospects w we e sh should uld be beable beable beable able to supply tl their requirements requirement In Incer cereals als other than wheat Wheat Situation Difficult The situation in wheat is one of great rent difficulty and con concern ern and must be met b by an elimination of waste vaste and reduction of consumption n on on ri the Hie part of the allied peoples and ourselves In one w word rd by an effective administration tion Uon of the available supply supply- The allies are unable to use other cereals al alone for bread They can use them only as added to wheat flour to make male the war bread now In universal universal universal uni uni- versal use use In European countries Except Except Except Ex Ex- In Ital Italy whose people normally consume much corn our allies have few corn mills and cornmeal Is not a durable commodity and therefore cannot cannot cannot can can- not be shipped in great quantities Moreover for generations they have bought bough bread from the bakeries the they have no equipment nor do o they know how to bake In the household Every American knows that it ft Is Infeasible to distribute corn bread from bakeries I and It ft Is therefore necessary for us to furnish our allies alUes with sufficient wheat to enable them to have a wheat basis for the loaf However they can use and must use other Bother cereals for mixture In their war bread and by this substitution and by savings on their part a great deal can be n On the other hand a deficit of O bushels can be at least partially overcome If we can Increase our exports from to or nearly triple This Tilts can be accomplished If we will substitute one pound of other cereals for one pound of wheat flour weekly per person that thatIs Is If we we reduce our consumption of wh wheat at flour from five pounds per week to four pounds per week per person It If will be no privation to us and will reduce the privation of our allies alUes Food Animals Owing to the ascending stan standard ard of 11 living v the world was already strained to supply enough animal products to meet the demand before the war be be- gan The war has Injected Into an al already already already al- al ready difficult situation a n number of vicious' vicious conditions which are Jeopardizing ing lag the ultimate animal products supply supply supply sup sup- ply of the world The Time production of fodder In Europe has been diminished by the diversion of productive labor to towar towar towar war and Its Import has been curtailed by sh shortage In shipping and and- by the Isolation of markets by belligerent lines From these causes causes not only are the actual numbers of animals decreasing decreasing decreasing de de- creasing In E Europe rope but the average weight and the annual output of dairy products per animal are decreasing A careful estimate of the worlds world's food animal position shows the time followIng following following follow follow- ing position Decrease aso Increase se or In other decrease Decrease countries United west western rn Including Total net States allies aUles enemies decrease Cattle Sheep 4 Hogs 3 The problem facing the American people Is not nott only one of sup supplying ying the Immediate demand of the allies aUles but bilt butone butone one which Is more reaching far In Its future significance As the war goes goeson on there will be a n constant lessening of the capital stock of food animals of the world Among our western al allies allies al- al lies the demand outruns further every day the decreasing production as ns shipping shipping ship hip hipping ping becomes further shortened by hy continued continued con con- submarine destruction less tonnage tonnage ton ton- nage can be devoted to fodder and further further fur fur- ther reduction of the herds must en en- n- n sue These destructive forces hav given rise to reactions in many direr direr- Hons The worlds world's supply of meat anti and dairy products of animal fats and IndustrIal industrial industrial in In- fats wool and hides are all involved not only now but for far Into the fut future re Meats The Time Immediate problem Is to furnish furnish furnish fur fur- nish Increased meat supplies to the allies allies allies al al- al- al lies to maintain them during the war An Important factor contributing to the present situation lies In time the th disturb disturb- disturbance an ance e to the worlds world's trade by destruction tion of shipping re resulting In throwing a lar larger er burden on North America the nearest market marlet Shipments from the time Australasian South American and from the continental countries into the allied countries have been Interfered with Their contributions must be replaced replaced replaced re re- re- re placed by Increased shipments from North orth America The growth g of American meat exports exports exports ex ex- ports since the war began most of f which have been supplied b by allied nations nations nations na na- na- na Is revealed by the following figures fig figures fig fig- figures ures Three Three- year Three ear war pre-war average pounds Year ending June 30 1916 1339 1330 O pounds The Time impact of European demand upon our animal products will be maintained for a long period of years after peace We Ve can contemplate a abight high bight range of prices for meat and for fOl animal products for many years ears to come Wo We must undertake to meet the demand not only during the war so as asto asto asto to enable our allies to continue to fight but we must bp be prepared to meet the demand after the war Our herd cannot cannot cannot can can- not lie be Increased in a a single night or orIn orin orin In a single year Our producers will not only be working in their own ultimate ultimate ul ul- Interest in laying the foundation foundation foundation tion of larger herds and flocks but butwill butwill butwill will serve our national interest and the Interest of humanity for years to come ome come If J the time best hest strains of young animals are arc preserved The increase In herds can only b be accomplished If we save 11 more r of our ro roughage and raise more fo fodder rodder er grains It Is worth noting that after the the- war Europe with lessened herds will pending their thel recuperation require requite less les fodder and will therefore pr produce duce more bread grains and import Import import Im im- port less of them so that we can after the war safely reduce our bread grain production to Increase our fodder But we must lay our foundation In the meantime to Increase our herds There Is Js only one immediate solution to the short supply T of meat for export export export ex ex- port pending the tile Increase In our herds and flocks which will take years During During Dur Dur- ing lug the course of the war we can just justas justI as with the cere cereals ls reduce the consumption consumption con con- and eliminate the waste particularly particularly par par- among those classes which can best afford It In the meantime In order to protect all nil of our people we must carefully control our meat meat exports exports exports ex ex- ports In order that the people shall not be denied this prime necessity of life Dairy Products The Time worlds world's dairy supplies are decreasing decreasing decreasing de de- creasing rapidly for two Important rea rea- sons First the time dairy cattle of Europe Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope are diminishing for Europe Is being beIng being be be- ing d driven to eat Its cattle for meat second the diversion of labor to war has decreased the fodder supplies and the shortage of shipping has limited the am amount of Imported fodder and therefore the |