FOOD AND SHIPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 11, 12 January 1918, Page 4

FOOD AND SHIPPING.

The system of food rationing in England, which Lord Rhondda is introducing gradually, is not dictated entirely by the shortage bf food, serious though that is. It is partly due to the necessity for placing as much tonnage as possible at the disposal of America for the transport of troops. The striking success of , the convoy system shows that England can import large quantities of food by taking special measures for its safety on the sea, but every ton that can be diverted from this carrying means the strengthening of the American army in France. The recent Allied conference in Paris dealt with the question of giving the utmost help to America to enable her to transport troops as rapidly as possible, and no doubt the British representatives gave an undertaking, there that British food importations would be cut down to the lowest possible limits in orjfc: to free tohnage for this purpose. All the Allies must have made similar arrangements; and in going in for rationing Britain is following the example of Italy and France. The other day the bread ration in France'was readjusted in order to provide additional tonnage for American military transport. The Allies are quite frank as to the necessity for getting American troops over quickly, and fortunately there is reason to believe that transportation is proceeding more rapidly than was believed would be possible. Naturally, no official figures are given as to the strength of the American army in France; the most that the Secretary for War will say is that the army is "substantial," and that transportation and training are proceeding "at an unprecedented speed." "Unprecedented," bowever, is a vague word, the value of which depends on the standard of comparison used, and this one does not know. It was stated on good authority in October that there were then more than 100.000 American soldiers in France. If so, there should be 150,000 or more now, and there should be at least a-quarter of a million by the spring. America has a huge shipbuilding programme in hand, but probably the year will be substantially advanced before the ships begin to be. delivered in large numbers, and the need for reinforcements in the meantime is so pressing that the Allies must do everything possible to keep the stream flowing. In the meantime the losses of British ships through enemy action are fairly heavy. For the second successive (week eighteen large ships have been sunk. That there is renewed anxiety at Home is shown by the "authoritative" statement that has just been issued to reassure the public, which is rightly reminded that it must take into consideration other factors besides sinkings. Losses among the enemy's submarines have been officially declared to be increasing, and there is good ground for hope that they will soon overtake construction. The output of merchant ships is "increasing, and offensive and defensive measures against the submarine are being extended and improved. The French and Italian losses are light. The most conspicuous feature of the situation is the success of the convoy system. Sir Eric Geddes stated in November that the proportion of loss in ships convoyed through the danger zone was one in two hundred. No doubt the Allied Admiralties are striving by all means to extend the convoy system. Unfortunately there are not nearly enough destroyers to satisfy them; Mr. Balfour stated when he was First Lord that all the yards of the world concentrated on destroyers could not supply as many as the Admiralty would like to have. It was very unfortunate that at the beginning of America's (war the American Navy was so weak in destroyers, and for some inexplicable reason

some months passed before adequate measures were taken to add ?«■% *° this arm. But in the coming summer America will send Ufga i m 6 to the dinger zone, and m the meantime British, yards will be active^