CAN BRITAIN BE STARVED?

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 92, 1 June 1917, Page 7

CAN BRITAIN BE STARVED?

SOCIALIST PAPER'S WARNING. Herr Reisser, president of the Hansa League, in a speech at a recent meeting said that the aim of the German submarine campaign was not to force Great Britain to her knees but to produce in England the desire for an. understanding.— The Socialist organ, 'Vonvaerts,' considered that Count Revontlow'saims could be attained only l>v a tremendous prolongation of the Va'r. This statement was again denied by Count Reventlow, who demanded proofs from in support of its theory. Tins has led to the publication of a long explanation in 'Vonvaerts,' which says: "Assuming that Great Britain's supplies,will last only four months, she cannot, in theory, be forced to her knees in less than' four months if no foodstuffs are imported. But if instead of holding out for four months she can hold out for five or six months, she can live on her coming harvest for at least three months more." Commenting then on the official figures published, in England of the incoming and outgoing vessels, 'Vonvaerts' points out that of 1250 vessels which maintained communication between the United Kingdom- and other countries during the first 18 days of February, only 200 were sunk, and England caiinot be suddenly starved out so long as even five or six grain vessels manage to reach England. 'Vonvaerts' also reminds Count Reventlow that the organisation of supplies and the introduction of rationing in Great Britain will delay the realisation of Gqunt Reventlow s dream by further weeks and months. The paper concludes: "If we threaten Great Britain with destruction we naturally incite her people to greater thrift. r No man, not even Count Rev-entlow.-can say when the day will come when Great Britain has no ionger anything left to eat, and even when it does come, that day will itself lie separated by a great gulf from the day when the British nation will be inclined to come to a just understanding."