BRITAIN’S DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 9

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE

FOOD SUPPLIES IN WAR. CHANGES SINCE LAST CONFLICT. The dark cloud of war is over the land. At any moment it may burst and sow death and destruction upon us, writes Mr H. G. Chancellor in the “Contemporary Review.” If it comes, which God forbid, the most vital problem of defence for Britain will be hot” to keep the people fed until the war ends. Last time, with command of the seas and the world’s resources available, Britain succeeded, but only by rationing. Submarine sinkings were counteracted in time to escape famine And famine would have meant defeat and surrender. At present, taking all foodstuffs together, Britain produces less than one-half of what she consumes, and is dependent for the rest on supplies from over the seas. Stop these or any considerable proportion of them, and we British starve. Even today a vast number- of the population gets less food than is necessary for health, and our position is less secure than in 1918. Then submarines were practically the only danger to incoming food ships, Mr Chancellor goes on to slate. Today their size, range and power are greater, and the danger is doubled by bombing from the air. Then all seas and oceans were open to Britain.’ Today fortifications and air bases established and controlled by likely enemies could close the Mediteranean and jeopardise the East African route, thus shutting off supplies from India, Australia, the Cape, and all the countries from which Britain then imported via these routes. That this is their aim is no longer in doubt. With these risks to face and nearly five million more mouths to feed, how vital is Britain’s need for less dependence on oversea supplies, which increased home production, and that alone, can insure.