CAN BRITAIN BE STARVED?

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 May 1917, Page 6

CAN BRITAIN BE STARVED?

SOCIALIST PAPER’S WARNING. Herr Reisser, president of the Hansa League, in a speech at a recent meeting, said 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, Vorwaerts, considered that Count Reventlow’s aims could be attained only by a tremendous prolongation of the Avar. This statement was again denied by Count ReventloAv, Avho demanded proofs from VorAvaerts in support of his theory. This has led to the publication of a 1 long explanation in Vorwaerts Avhich | says; “Assuming that Great Britain’s i supplies Avill last only four months, j she cannot, in theory, be forced to her knees in less than four months if no foodstuffs are imported. B'ut if instead of holding for four months she can old out for five or six mouths she j 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 A r essels, 'Vor-

Avaerts points out that of 1250 vessels which maintained communication betAveen the United Kingdom aii'd other countries during its first 18 days of February, only 200 Avere sunk, and England cannot be suddenly starved out so long as eA r en five or six grain vessels manage to reach England. VorAvaerts also reminds Count R'event-

loav that the organisation of supplies and the introduction of rationing in Great Britain Avill delay the realisation of Count ReventloAv’s dream by further weeks and months’.

The paper concludes; “If Ave threaten Great Britain Avilh destruction Ave naturally incite her people to greater thrift. No man, not even Count ReventloAA', can say Avhen the day Avill come that Great Britain has no longer anything left to eat, and even Avhen it does come, that day Avill itself he separated by a great gulf from the day when the British nation Avill be inclined to come to a just understanding.”