THE FOOD SHORTAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3347, 8 May 1918, Page 17

THE FOOD SHORTAGE.

PUTTING DOWN PROFITEERING. The House of Commons passed the Food Profits Bill, which imposes a penalty of forfeiture of double the amount of illegal profit. Sir Gordon Hewart explained thatthis penalty would bo additional to the existing penalties; whatever other penalty was inflicted at the magistrate’s discretion, defendant must forfeit twice the illegal profit. Ministers refused a request by several members that this forfeiture should also bo at the magistrate’s discretion, and asserted that the clause was the very essence of the Bill. The 'Press Bureau states that largo arrivals of American bacon and ham will enable the Food Controller temporarily to raise the coupon values for bacon to eight ounces and ham to 12 ounces. The Food Controller hopes to be in a position to increase the butter and margarine rations before he lowers the bacon ration. The Food Controller estimates that the area ynder potatoes in the United Kingdom in 1918 is approximately 900,000 acres, which is 25 per cent, greater than in 1917. A now economic arrangement has been concluded between Switzerland and representatives of the Allies, whereby Switzerland undertakes to supply the allied Governments with a certain quantity of wood for a period of eight months, tho Allies in return making important concessions regarding the supply or food to Switzerland. The Government has, appointed a committee to consider whether cereals should be used in the manufacture of dog biscuits, and whether the number of dogs in the country should be limited. A NEW DISEASE. The authorities are endeavouring to trace the origin of a new war disease resembling botulism. Cases are daily reported, and several have proved fatal. _ The disease is believed to be due to a microbe in undercooked food and potted meats, the consumption of which has greatly increased consequent upon the adoption of rationing. BOMBARDING PARIS. A long-range gun is again bombarding the city. It is reported that French shells have knocked out one of the German long-range guns. Deputy Le Boureq, Controller of the French Army Commission, confirms the destruction of the long-range guns. He was present when a French battery, after repeated shots, scored a bulls-eye. QUEEN MARY’S MESSAGE. Queen Mary sent a message to the navy, the army, and the Air Force, expressing the immeasurable pride and absolute trust of the women of the British Empire in all branches of the forces. CHINESE TROOPS. Admiral Khli, a member of the Chinese War Mission, being interviewed,, said that China is ready to send a largo army to ■ Franco if the Allies will supply transportation for them. Captain Ting Cha Chen, Chinese military representative, who is travelling from Fiance to China, has been interviewed in New York. He says that China expects to have 40,000 troops fighting on the west front early in this summer. Chinese troops are already going to France. THE HUNS CRUELTIES. Twenty-five thousand Belgian men and boys are compelled to work on military tasks behind the German lines in tho' region of Valenciennes and Mauberg, alone or under the whip of German sentries. The mortality at deportees’ camps is terrible, and numbers who are sent back as unfit are replaced by fresh recruits. An Italian officer recently escaped from a Hungarian prison, camp. Ho was recaptured and mercilessly beaten. Others protested to tho commandant, who ordered tho guards to fire, killing a lieutenant and wounding nine other prisoners. Tho Italian papers are demanding reprisals. WAR PRISONERS. The Red Cross have arranged to send parcels of 151 b weight every fortnight to prisoners of war in Turkey by American express, to expedite their transit across Austria, where in the past delays have occurred, Recent acknowledgments from Turkey indicate that the parcels are now arriving more satisfactorily, but extremely slowly. The society that 1000 British prisoners coming from Turkey in connection with the new agreement will include Australians. The ship which takes the exchanged Turkish prisoners from Egypt to Asia Minor will carry a largo quantity of foodstuffs and clothing for distribution among the British prisoners, also parcels of clothing for each officer. In consequence of the Dutch Government’s representations, officer prisoners will in future receive 18 lira (£l6), and non-coms, and men 10 lira (£9) monthly. The Franco-German agreement negotiated at Borne provides for tho internment in Switzerland of officers who have been prisoners of for at least 13 months and the repatriation of non-commissioned officers and men who have been prisoners for a similar length of time. It is stated that the agreement affects 250 German officers and 120,000 other Germane. Interned civilians will ho permitted to return to their previous places of residence. PARCELS FOR PRISONERS. In the House of Lords, Lord Newton, in explaining tho cessation of the despatch of war prisoners’ parcels to Germany, stated that it was partly duo to the accumulation of parcels, but the despatch would shortly be resumed. Lord Sandwich stated that lack of shipping was another cause. The British organisation for the supply of parcels was now sending food in a more con-

centrated form, a.n-,1 was also increasing the Bupply of bread and biscuits from Holland. PRISONERS' ESCAPE. Two Australians, who were captured by the enemy, on April 4, made a sensational escape. While captives were engaged in burying the German dead, and they helped to inter I*3oo. They were surprised at the heaviness of the enemy losses. Wriile they were imprisoned in an old British prisoners' compound a shell broke the wire, and they bolted. During eight days they traversed the whole of the German line 3, hiding during the daytime. When challenged they ran, dodging rifle shots. On approaching the German front lines they came under the British barrage. Then they crossed the enemy trenches, ■which were full of Boches, and rushed .er "No Man's Land." They ran the gauntlet of fire from both sides. On approaching the Australian lines they pretended to be German surrenderors, but wero treate i as epics till they established sir Seventeen British prisoners who escaped from Germany have arrived in London. Peter Gillon, wire l ~=<s. operator from 'the steamer Otaki, has reached Switzerland from Germany. RECRUITING IN SOUTH AFRICA. A vigorous recruiting campaign is in progress. Women are visiting the racecourses, theatres, and other places of amusement, and rounding up slackers. , 'At a mpoting in Oudshoorn 50 women talked on to the platform and announced that they were willing to fight, upon which 70 men followed them. 0«uoraI Botha, in a recruiting appoal to men of wealth, said: "If you cannot go •-ours-ili, send a then you will be directly represented in the struggle and able to stiaro tho great personal sacrifices of others." General Botha added that arrangements would be mado with the substitutes themselves or through the Prime Minister. Tho Government had opened a list of those willing to send five, throe, or iiurnbsr of substitutes. Getiera! Botha's appeal to inon of means who were usable to go to the front to provide substitutes resulted fn every Cabinet Minister ajjrcsinjr, also 33 other" members of Parliament, including Sir T. Smartt (Loader of ihe Opposition). The Union Assembly passed Unopposed the third reading of a Bill substantially increasing war pensions for soldiers, and their dependents. THE AIR. BOARD RESIGNATIONS. In the House of Commons, Mr Pringle raised tho question of the resignations of Sir David Henderson ".nd Sir Hugh Tronohard from '.ho Air Force. Ho declared that tho Honso should bo informed of the different** K'ttveen Lord Rothermere (formerly President of tho Air Board) and Major-r/onora! Trenoimrd. Lord Hugh Cecil protested agains amateur in the Cabinet. Mr Lloyd George denied that members of tho had suggested strategy to General Trenohard. Lord J'Tuph Cecil replied that Mr Lloyd George oared only for his own retention in office. Mr Licvd (Joorgn Renin denied that there was t>,T\v Cnbinflt interference with Genera' Trenohard. »nd doriuntded Hint Lord Hugh Cwoil wirMrow h'n offensive smtjrostion. Lord IT:ttrli fan! to withdraw.

and declared that General Trenohard was ' indispensable. Mr Lloyd George admitted General Trenchard's remarkable services, but denounced members of the House who were serving in the forces using service as information for the purpose of criticising the civil military command. Many disputes would be settled but for political interference. 4 Mr Lloyd George said Major-general Sir H. Trenchard was not tho best Chief of Staff, but would be given a position of considerable power jn thp air forcA. Sir William W«ir concurred, in-this decision. , Mr Asquitb ' regarded General Trenchard's resignation as a regrettable incident, which the Government should have avoided. Sir E. Carson declared that General Trenchard had been driven out. Air offi- j ccrs told him that the soul left the air service when General Trenchard went. Major Baird (Parliamentary Secretary I of the Air Board) made the reassuring statement that the number and quality of our pilots was steadily increasing. The losses in March equalled those in April, 1917, when we were engaged' in winning air supremacy on the Somme. Germany's sure losses were three times and a-half as many as in April, 1917. Major-general Salmond was fullv satisfied with the response to all his demands. VARIOUS ITEMS! Youths throughout Canada aged 19 years are being called up for military service. Tommy Burns, the well-known pugilist, has enlisted in the Canadian army. A British mission will arrive at Rio do Janeiro shortly, headed by Mr Maurice Dcbunsen. The curtailed train services in Britain | came into operation on the Ist. An Order- ; in-Council empowers the authorities to oancel or decline to issue season or other tickets, and otherwise to restrict travel facilities. Lord Milner has appointed Mr lan MacPherson {Under-secrefcary of State for War) as President of tho Army Council and Act-ing-deputy War Secretary, thereby giving Lord Milner much-needed assistance in the administration of the business of the War Office." The American Headquarters reports that the Germans arc using a new liquefied ga<* contained in bottles. When tho latter burst, thick white fumes arise, causing nausea, sneezing, and coughing, but apparently not fatal. The French (Socialist parly has issued a_ manifesto stating that it has been decided not to hold a demonstration on May Day. German Imperialism is seeking to secure a crushing victory in the west similar to that achieved in the east; therefore it is the primary duty of all citizens to defend their country. ! Tho British Admiralty announces that a j distinctive chevron will bo issued to all descriptions of tho naval personnel, including women, who began sea service in i 914, with an additional ohevron for each year of subsequent service, similar to the military arrangements cabled on October 15. Dominion members of the naval- staff will bo eligible for the award in respect to service outside their own country. INTER-ALLIED WAR COUNCIL. I Tho Press Bureau ctates that Mr Lloyd ! George and Lord Milner have returned from . France, where they attended the meetings I

of the fifth session of the Supreme War Council. The meetings were also attended by M. Clemenceau, Signor Orlando, and Allies’ nav'al and miltiary advisers, including Generals Foch, Haig, Pershing, and Petain. M. Clemenceau, on being questioned regarding the results of the Inter-allied Council meeting, expressed satisfaction at the situation at the front, adding: “General Foch is optimistic. That is all I can say.” Reports from Franc© say that as a result of the Inter-allied War Council General Foch commands from the North Sea to the Adriatic. AWARDS TO NEW ZEALANDERS. The following awards have ueen mad© for acts of gallantry in the field: —_ Bar to Military Cross —Captain J. G Coates (Auckland). Military Cross.—Lieutenant 0. A. S. Hird (Canterbury). D.C.M. —Corpoi'al H. White. Warrant Officer D. M. G. Mackay (Canterbury,, Private R. C. Shannon (Rifles). Military Medal. —Sergeant R. 0. Fonmor (Canterbury). AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. Subscriptions to the War Loan totalled £43,322,880. The war pensions granted total 100,855, involving an annual expenditure of £3.295.960. In the Federal Senate, Senator Gai’diner, in repudiating the statements that the Labour oarty favoured immediate peace by negotiation, said the party was in the war to a finish. The Federal Government _is approaching the _ Imperial authorities with a view to raising the age limit for the Expeditionary Forces to 55 years. Senator Pearce (Minister of Defence) has announced that parents’ consent to epable youth- under 21 to enlist is not now required. Recruits may enlist at 18, but will not be sent into camp until six months later. They will be embarked as soon as possible, but will not. be allowed into the firing line until thev reach the age of 19. A sum of over £20.000 has already been promised in New South Wales for the fund for insuring, for £2OO each, all recruits having persons dependent on them. Recruiting continues brisk in Sydney, parades of troops greatly stimulating the enfis‘.merit. Captain Carmichael’s “thousand” created wonderful enthusiasm on the Ist during a triumphal march through the citv. Special intercession services were hold in the Protestant churches in New South Wales on the Ist in view of the gravity of the situation. It is hoped the Rod _ Cross subscriptions in New South Wales will reach £500.000.