The Midland Journal

ENEMIES OF THE HUN ARE CRYING FOR FOOD.

Baltimore.—When a large, fat man in a Baltimore restaurant heard a report that the Germans had accepted the Allies' armistice terms, he fervently exclaimed: "Fine! Now you can bring me three lumps of sugar and some more butter."

True, he had one of those befogged minds that cannot see three feet away from their own appetites; he just figured that—as during the war he had been deprived of his second lump of sugar and such like necessities of life—therefore, with the war won he could straightway begin to stuff himself up again as in the good old days of yore. He did not stop to reason how a laying-down of arms by the Huns was going in the twinkling of an eye to raise up the amount of food in the world. It may be he had nothing to think with: but there are lots of people in America—and right here in Maryland—who can think but are thoughtless. And their thoughtlessness threatens to create in Europe a situation worse than war—a state of anarchy which could not fail to have disastrous results on this continent as well. For the war has taught how closely knit together are the affairs of the whole world: and that is a lesson that one dare not forget at the first sign of peace.

The embattled millions of Europe have got to return from the world's battle grounds and not only sow a crop, but also harvest and mill it before food conditions "over there" will re-approach the normal. There are granaries jammed with grain in distant lands like India and the Argentine; but now that it is really over "over there" Uncle Sam will use his ships for bringing home his boys rather than for plying tropic seas in search of food for us. There will be vessels to spare only on their return trips to Europe, and America's task will still be to keep them full of food.

For the food fight is far from over. The advent of peace does not end America's obligations but actually doubles them. The millions who have been rescued from Teuton thralldom now clamor for food as imperatively as they cried for liberty. The Hun has gone, but only after stripping their larders bare.

Consequently, there are two hundred million people who legitimately look to the U. S. A. for sustenance. To desert them now would be as dastardly as never to have gone to their aid.

The U. S. Food Administration has promised that the American people will shoulder this huge task of supplying them with at least a minimum of food. That is computed for the year ending September 30th, 1919, at 17,500,000 tons; which is half as much more than with all our saving we were able to transport during the past twelve months.

Our supply is practically the same as before. Wheat has increased by 263,000,000 bushels and because so much attention was devoted to wheat thrift many people now falsely assume that the food crisis is past. But here are steadying and sober figures: Corn has decreased by 442,000,000 bushels and potatoes and oats by 52,000,000 bushels each. At first view the Department of Agriculture report would seem to indicate that we have in sight 226,000,000 more of a crop than last year. Fortunately, however the nutritional value of the corn is substantially higher and promises less spoilage. Also, the number of hogs in the country is materially increased making the situation as a whole, the United States has about the same supply to count on as last year—and has to sacrifice for its friends fifty percent more than before.

Without this food, grave disaster threatens in Europe, the grim visage of anarchy may be seen, and the whole world be plunged for long years into a state of affairs no less disastrous than war. To forestall it will be necessary to send food even to the hungering Huns—though only after our own Allies are provided for.

The new food program is based upon the Food Administration's realization of the utmost gravity of the situation it has to face. It calls for saving all along the line. The prevailing belief that with the coming of peace the old order of plenty will be restored is a dangerous one. Recent market events have shown that this belief is very widespread, and it is doubly unfortunate when accepted by the producing section of the country, whose burdens will inevitably be made not less but greater by the coming of peace.

FOOD VALUE OF SUGAR.

Sugar is available for immediate use by the body in fifteen minutes after eating: it is therefore a quick source of energy and heat. Starch will produce both energy and heat but is available for the body only after three hours. We can afford to wait a short time for our upbuilding and strength, but the boys over there who become exhausted, require the quick stimulant of sweets; let us send them more than their allotment.

CRANBERRY JELLY.

(Official Recipe.)

Two quarts cranberries, one quart water, one to one and one-half cups light syrup.

Cook cranberries in the water twenty minutes. Put through a sieve. This amount should make about one quart of juice and pulp. Add sweetening and cook about ten minutes, or until it will give a jelly.

Turn into molds.

The United States will have company present for a long time yet—80,000,000 or more. And so it will have to watch its table manners.

The Huns have learned there are a lot of things they cannot do. There is one big thing we must not imagine they can do and that is double the food supply of Europe by just laying down their arms.