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f i(M^ BRITAIN'S FOOD SUPPLY IS LOW DUE TO BAD HARVEST, NOT SUBS Farmers (Juaranteed Minmium I'rices for Six Yearu on Wheat, Oats. Potatoes, and Farm Laborer's Wage Raised. A despatch from Lomlon says: Promier Lloyd (ieorge BuiJ in a speech ill the House of Commons on Friday that the ultimate success of the allied cause depcniied on the ability to solve the tonnajje shortage, which was now affecting the ordinary needs of the ration and military exigencies. The situation called for the gravest meas- ures. The Premier said there was no sure way to victory without hunting the submarine from the deep. En- ormous •-•â- ritices were necessary from the . itish public and the Uov- ernmetit proposed to dispense with all non-essential importations to save tonnage. Can Face the Worst. The Premier declared he had not the .-iliKhtest doubt that if the whole programme were carried out and If all those who could help in production did help, "I honestly say wc can face the wor.st the enemy can do, and that is what we ought to be prepared to do." In dealing with the f|uestion of pro- duction, the Premier said: "Then there is the question of our home supplies of food. I want the country to know that at present our food -stocks arc low. This is not duo to fulimarine, but to the bad harvest. It is essential to the safety of the nation that we put forth every ef- fort to increase production thi^ year. Thire are still a few weeks to sow sprinir wheat, oats an<l barley; to Induce the farmer to plow up pasture land immediately. Tl-e Government propose-: to gunrar.t;". the farmi'i- a minimum price for a definite period, while « minimum .vage of 'J.t .^hillings wee!cly \\\'.\ be tixoU for the laborer." The Prfiuler said Ibat bef(>re ttic war Ilriilsli tonnage had been ju^'t adn- <ju;iti!. aiid since that time there liad been an enonnous Increase In the dt- inaiid for t()llllll^•e. More than l.'ioo,- 000 tons of Hritlsh shipping bad boon allocated to l-"r»iice alone, and a \ery considerable amount bud been set a.'-lde for Russia and Italy; In addition, a rcnslderable amount liud been sunk. .Must lie Drastic Measures. Tor Moine time there has been a shortage of tonnage reijidred for the general needs of the nation, and cTen ellgbl shortage la the loiinjijro for miliiary iiurposes. Tlio nation should realize ali.-iolutely tthat the conditions were "If we lake drastic nunFuros." he coiilinue;!. "we can cope with the sub- marine menace, but If the nation Is not prepared lo accejit drastic measures fdi dc'alltiK Willi ilie meiia<'<' disaster Is before us " • "The (Joverniiiejit Is hopeful of find- Ir.K nieaiiH of dealliif; with Ibe sub- marine, but we should be guilty of f<d- 1> U^Ok.'- restoil tnimiullly upo:i the ex- peclallori of realization of that hope We liuve to dial rulblessly and prouijiily »lib li.e tiumaKc! prol)leni by measuren wlilili impose great sacrl- llce-i upon I lie lounlry Threi' Sets of .Measures. "There .are iliree ^ei.s of uioasures: KIrsl. by Ihe nmy. as de-terlbeil by Sir Kiluanl ('aiMjn iMrsi Lord i>f Ibe Adirdraltyi: second. Ibe building of iirtTcbaiit ulilpr,; lliird, dispensing villi iiiinec<'S-Har> coininodlile-f from abrrtud and produclion of a^ much fuo<l as pos.tllile at bi;tne " 'J'lie oplnlf.u was expresseil l.y llio Premier lliat food prlci-s were not like- ly lo decrease for a long time aflr'r Ihe war, inasiiiiieli ns (iennany weuld Iben be a heavier pur(-b(iser than e\er bo fore Therefore li was safe l<> uranl lo the farmers a mlnlniuni' price over o tiellnlie period a! lime, which was the (inly way lo briiii; aboui iinuied late acihui The rremier .innounied ibaL llie lioveriiineiil woubl Kuarantee a price of :'.Kh. 6d. for eaU this year, H2h. for Ihe next two year-., and 24s. for thi« three follow liiR years Tbi' price of potatoes would be guaranteed, for Ihe coming seHHon only, at Juli a Ion. For wheal ihe (joverniueiit will guaranti'o the farmer Ihe fcdlowlug niinliiiuin piic(--< tier ipiarler For llie t- . preBeiit year, 608.; for 1918 and 1919, 5Bs.; for 1920, 1921, and 1922, 45s. To ('ompcl Production. The Premier tald powers would be glv«u to the Hoard of Agriculture to compel landowners to cultivate their ground. The ullnlmum wage for farm labor announced by Mr. Lloyd George, 25 shillings a week, represents an In- • crease of DO to 80 per cent, over the present prevailing payment. j Brewing will be cut down to 10,- 000,000 barrels annually. A similar : reduction will be made in the output of spirits, affecting a saving of 600,- 000 tons of foodstuffs. The importation of apples, toma- toes and fruits will bo prohibited. The only exceptions made in the pro- hibition of fruit importations will be in the cases of orangea and bananas, ' in which the amount brought in will be ' restricted 25 per cent. The same re- I striction will apply to nuts. Canned I salmon importations will be reduced j fifty per cent. The importation of 1 foreign tea, coflTee and cocoa is pro- I hibited, and even the amount of India tea which may be brought in is re- ! duced. The importation of aerated, | mineral and table waters will be pro- hibited. ! Save 900,000 Tons .Shipping. , The Premier said it was expected to save 900,000 tons of shipping year- | ly on foodstuffs. The imjiortation of paper, the Premier announced, must be curtailed by a further (>'10,000 tons annually. In announcing the decision to restrict the importantion of paper, Mr. Lloyd frcorge t^aid the Government had ar- ' rived at the conclusion that a very] substantial reduction was necessary,! and that the amount would be cut to half of what is now allowed. This would reduce the allowance to 040,- â-  000 tons. 1 K.>>senllal Foods on Free List. < 1 All essential articles of food, he con- tinued, would be on the free list, but ceitain articles would be reduced or prohibited. The stoppage of im- portation of coffee, tea and cocoa for the time being was due to the fact that large supjilies were on hand. The Premier said he regretted very much the cutlii:g off of certain luxuries which came from France and Italy. These restrictions would be imposed immediately, said the Premier. Step.s Would be taken to prevent speculative buj'ing, and if necessary the food con- trol of the commodity. The restric- tions had been carefully considered, and he asked the House to take them as a whole. ' To Promote Shipbuilding. Premier Lloyd (ieorge said it was noces.sary to get as much work as possible out of the shipyards, not merely for the mercantile marine, but to enable the building of boats to cope with siiliniarliu>s . Timber to the amount (jf (;,l(l(».()()() tons had been im- portc'il, he said, and if this tonnage was to be saved, this timber problem must be dealt with. Investigation was being made as to the best methods of economizing tindier bchinil the lines anil in Kn^rland. .Another methcxl was to make the army in France self-supporting. Ore Importations. The next heaviest item of import is iron ore, which now amounts to 8,- 00(1,0(1(1 Ions annually. Kegarding this Hem the Premier said: "We are importing millions of ton.s, but ihe importation cainiot be diminished un-' les.s more iron ore is found in our country. Thire is plenty of low gra.le ore, however, in this country, and if the supply of labor can be augmeiiteil we cuu increase enormous, ly our oulpiit. The saving of ton- nage woulil be large, but, unfortunate- ly it would come laic in the year." Tonnage I'rge'nlly .Needed "Farmers can increase even now by hundreds of thousands of tons for this year," sidd Premier Lloyd fleerge, "the food cupplies of the country. If all the plans are carried out n very consi<leval)le i|U!intity of tonnage will bo saved, but future tonnage Is urgent- ly nuedod. The French Ambassador has been hero begging for more ships, and the Italian Ambassador has just left after making the same request. "We need an immediate and sub- stantial saving of tonnage. Let us come down ruthlessly on imports which are not essential. It is idle to suggest that we who are comfort- a'. le at home should not bo prepared to surrender the things unnecessary." VERDUN EFFORTS SERIOUS REVERSE Hindenburg Issues Statement Censuring German Losses in Memorable Conflict. Reuter's correspondent at British Headquarters in France says a copy of an order issued by Field Marshal von Hinderberg has come into the pos- session of the British forces. In part, the order says: "The operations at Verdun from October to December resulted In seri- ous and regrettable reverses. Incap- able officers must be ruthlessly remov- ed. The number of prisoners, which was unusually large for German troops, some of whom evidently sur- rendered without serious resistance, or without suffering heavy losses, shows the morale of some of the troops en- gaged was low." The order adds, according to the correspondent, that the reason for this requires a most careful investigation, and that steps must be taken to re- vive the old spirit of the Geniian in- fantry. <7he blending IVtUJ f is exceptional ^ FOOD SCANDAL IN AUSTRIAN ARMY Troops at FVont Were Delibera- tely Left Witiiout Food. An Exchange telegram despatch from Amsterdam says it is reported from Vienna that Baron Hazai has been removed as Hungarian Minister of National Uefcncc, Major-General von Szurmay having been appointed in his place. This change and also the removal frcjm command of the Austro- Ilungarian army of Field-Marshal Archduke Frederick, who lu.s been made secoiui in command t< the Em- peror, are reported to have been in consequence of x: scandal in the army managemeiit which was revealed re- cently at headijuartcrs by the fact that large bodies of troops were with- out f(iU(| for upwards of a day. According to this report, food in- tended for the troops was misapplied with full knowledge of the higher com- mand. The Kmperor is said to have decided to procee<l with many addi- tional cases whi.-h are described as be- ing of a sensational nature. ARREST MEMBERS OF SINN FEIN ORDER Men Released From Internment Camp.s in England .Again in Custody. LEADING MARKETS Breadstatli Toronto. Feb. 27â€" Manitoba wheat-- No. 1 Northern. 11.964; No. 2 Uc. »l-93«- No. 3, do., 11.88: No. 4 wheat, »1.7». track Pay ports. „, ,,, ,, Manlto\)a oatsâ€" No. 2 C.W.. 7 He to 7So; No. 8 C.W., 70i to 72c: extra No. I feed. 70i to 72c; No. 1 feed. 69i to Tlo. all rail dellvereJ en route. American corn â€" No. 3 yellow. *i lo. subject to embarjro. Ontario oatsâ€" .N"o. 2 white. 63 to 65c, nominal; No. 3 white. 62 to 64c. nomin- al. ftccordInK to frelKhts outside. Ontario wheatâ€" No. 2 Winter, per car lot. 11.75 to $1.77; No. 3. do.. »1. . 3 to 11.76. accordinc to frelKhts outside. Peasâ€" No. 2. »2 46. uccordinK frel«rlitn outside. Barleyâ€" Maltlnpf. 1120 to J1.22. lordlnjc to frelKht.! out.-lde. Uucltwhealâ€" $1.2S. noniltial. aocordinff to frelKhts outslile- Ryeâ€" No. 2. $1.40 to $1.42. .iccordlnc to frtlKhtK outside. , , . .Manitoba flourâ€" FlrBt patents. In jute buK.s. J9 5u; second patents. In Jute bade. J9.0U; stroni^ balo-rs". In jute buKS. IS C)!). Toronto. Ontario Hourâ€" Winter, according: to sample. »7 25 to $7.35. In ba«s. track Toronto, prompt shipment; li.Oe. DUlK sealioarJ. export urade. Mlllfeed â€" far lots, delivered Montreal frelKhts. baKs Inchided â€" Hran. per ton. »37: shorts, per ton, $42; tjood feed Hour, per l>aK. $2.70 to $2.80. lla.v - i:xtra -No. 2. per ml.xed. per ton. lu to $11.00 roiito. Straw â€" far lots, per ton. $1 ronto. to ac- MOST OF THE U-BOATS SINK BUT SOME HAVE BEEN CAPTURED Fully 200 Have Not Returned to Their Biuse. Declares Alfred Noyes, the English Poet. ton. $12; track To- . truck To- A despatch from New York says:â€" England's anti-submarine fleet con- sists of 4,000 private yachts, whalers and fishing vessels, manned by 60,000 men, and this force already has de- stroyed 200 German submarines, 'Alfred Noyes, the English poet, as- s^ted in a statement here Wednes- day night. "Every boat is armed with guns ' throwing 12 or 14-pound explosive shells, and has 1,000 yards of steel netting trailing behind," he declared. â-  I "All the home waters are mapped out in-blocks and each block patrolled. ' j "Imagine GO trawlers stretching a \ steel undersea net from the English I to the Irish coast and you get some I idea of the British Admiralty's anti- submarine campaigTi, by vihich the German submersibles have been driv- en from home waters and forced to at- tack neutral vesM^ls on the high seas." Mr. Noyes saia he had spent many days with the trawlers, and was in- formed by theii captains that a sub- marine "rarely will attack an armed vessel. What 'oeo-'mc-s of a sub- marine after it strikes a trawler's net, the poet said, i^ a naval secret. "Some have bten captured and tak- en to England, but most of them sink," he added. It is impossible to save the crews. What is done to them when they hit the net I am forbidden tj say." h dcsimtch from Dublin says; A number of Sinn-Feiners, who had re- cently returned from internment in England were arrested on Thur.-iday in Limerick, (lalway and SUibbcreen, as well as in Dublin. The arrests were made under the defence of tip' realm act. .Mtogclhcr about tifty mcml>ers of the Sinn-Fein and the Gaelic League had been arrested and arrests are continuing. Thirty live men were taken into custody in Dublin atone. In (ialway on Thursday night a promin- ent member of the Oiighterard Dis- trict t'ouMcil and a prominent .\thenry merchant were arrested. .\mong those arrested in Dublin, the despatch says, arc Councillor S. T. Kelly, J. .1. O'Kelly, editor of the Catholic Bul- letin; Darrel b'iggis, a wtdl known writer, and Captain I.iam Mellowes. Coantry Produc* â€" WhoUsal* liuteerâ€" I''resh d.ilry. choice. 36 lo 3Sc; creanit-ry prints. 43 to 45c; solldH. 42 to 43c. Kkks â€" New-lnld. In cartons. S5 to 56c; out of cartons. 52 to u4c. Dressed poulti yâ€" t'hlckcn". 23 to 2Cc; fowl. 2u lo 22c: ducks. 22 to 2uc; squal>». per Joz . $4 to $4 5u, turkeys. 2S to 3Sc; Kvese. IS to 20c. Live poultrv- Fowl. Ih.. 17 to 19o; chickens, lb . 18 to 20.-. l'heese--New. lurpe. 25J lo 26c; twins. 2ii to 20ii.-. triplets. 2tjj to 26Jc; old. large. 27i-; twins, 27J to 275'-. Honevâ€" White clover. 2J-lb. tin*. 14 to 14Jc: 6-lb. tins. 13i to 14c; lO-lb . 13 lo ISlc. 60-lb.. 12» to 13c; buckwheat. OU-lb. tins. » to 9J. I'omb \wn>-i â€" extra (liie and heavy welitht. per do2.. $2.76; sele.-l. $2.60 to $276; No. 2. $2 to $2. 25. rotiiloes- Ontario. per baR. $3 50; New Urunswlck Kelawares. per bair. $4 to $4.25, Albertas. per baK. $350 to $8.76. Hcans â€" Imported hand-picked. per lliush. $S.25; Oanadl.in. hand-picked, per bush. $7.00; Canadian primes. $6.00 lo $(! 5(i; I.lnius. pel lb. llj to U'c. Provlalon* â€" WlioUial* Knpjked meats -HaniR. m>-dliini. 2» to 27c: do. heii^y. 23 to 24c; cooked. 37 to 38c: rolls. 21 to :2c; breakfast bacon. 2 7 lo 29c; bucks, plain. 2N lo 30c; bone- Ih-is. 31 to 33c. l.ard â€" I'ure lard, tleroe.x. 2li to 3Uc: tabs. 21i to 22c. palls. 22 lo 23lc. com- pound. Ifiil ti> 17c. I'ured meats â€" l.onK clear h.ncon. II* lo 18ic per lb . dear balliva. lb lo l»|c Kontr«»l Marktti Mt>nlrenl l-'ch, 27-^-foin â€" .Vnterlcnn ,\o. 2 yellow. $1 3U to $1.32. Oats - l.'anadian WcMtei-n. No. 2. 75 to 76<'; do. .No 3. 73 to 74c: extra No I feed. 73 to 74c. Flour â€" .Man. .Sprli\R wlicat pnteiit"!. Ilrsls. $9.60; seconds $910. .-itronK bakfia'. $8.90; Wlnt>-r patents, choice. $9 2.'i. slralght rollerM. $8 r,0 to $S8»: stralKht rollers, bairs. $4.10 to $4 25 Holled oats -bnriels. $6 75 to $7 15. do. bags. 9(1 Ib.s . $3 25 ti' $3.4.i Hran. $3.'.. .Shorn. $3». .MiildlhiKK. $40 to $42. Mouillle. $45 to $oO Ilas No. 2. per ton. car lots. $13. t'heese Mnest we.sl- efiis. 26 lo 264i': do., ilttent easterns. So lo 2fijc. Itiilter chi>lcest creinarey. 42 tc 43c: Hei-ondk 39 to 41c. KkK^^-v fresh. [lO to r.'ic: sele<'ted. 4,Sc: No. « •.lock, 46c INilaloes per bag. car lolw. $3 UU to $3 CO. Wlnulpsir Omln WlnnlpeK. Kch. 27 .No 1 .Northern. $1 731: No. 2 .Nor-llieih. $1 T'll. No. 3 Northern. $1 B.-.|; N... 4. $1661: No. 6. »l 3S|. .\.i. «. $1 I0|. feed, 9ac. Oals â€" No 2 1. .W , is\v. No .S 1-. W. 6ejc; ex- tra .No 1 feed. 66ic; .No. 1 feed. 5tic; .No 2 feed. 5;.lc Harlev .\o 3 C.W. 97c. .\d. 4 «' W . Ii2i': rejecled NOc; feed. 80C. Flax .No I N W I' . $2.'i;;j, .No 2 O W . $2.51'}. Vultad States Markets Miina-apolls. 1-Vl' 27 Wheat. Ma\. il.t^O. Jul\. $1 74i, Ou.Hh No. 1 liard. I 90 lo $1 94; .No. I Northern. $1 S2 to I.SS: No 2 .Northprn. JI.TS to $1 S7. Corn No 3 \ ellow. $loaJ to $102. Oals. Nir 3 white, fj6J to 574c FUnir Fancv paunls, $9 45; Hist cle.ivK. $S 25. oilier Hiades iinch.itiKcd. Iti-ati unchauKed. Ouluth. Pet.. 27 Wheat. No. \ hard. $1 K3|: .Nt>. l Norlliern. $isal: No. t Nc'itheiii, $1 S7| 10 $1901 l.lnseed. on tnicli, $2Mi lo $2.,S2: to arrive. $2.SI4. May. $2 S3i asked: .hilv. t2 V3J asked. I.lve atook M»rk*t« 'riii-i.nto. I'cb 27 I'liotce lii-av v .-^Icera. $10S5 to $1125: do., good. $10 3.") to $1060; butchers' cattle. chi>lce. $10 35 to $10.65: do. good. $9. So to $10 U»; do., medium. $!i.75 to $9 00: do., common, $7.60 to $7 67: butchers' bulls, choice. $9.25 to $9.75; do,. Rood bulls. $8.40 to $S S5: do., medium bulls, $7.15 to $7 liO: do., ruush bulls. $6 to $3.25. butchers' cow». choice, $8.90 to $9.25: do.. Kood. $8 10 to $8 60; do., medium. $7 to $7.25; »tockera. $6.25 to $S: choice feeders. $s.25 lo $8 75: eanners and cutters $5 to $5 50; milkers, good to choice. $S5 to $110; do. com. and med . ea.. $40 to $60; springers. $50 lo $110; light ewes. $10 to $le.60, hheep. heavy. $s 60 lo $9 50;; calves, good lo choice, $12.75 t-i $14 75;| lambs, choice. $14 to $15: do. medium, $9 75 to $10.25: hog.s. fed and watered. ' $14.75; do., weighed off cars. $16, do, fob.. $14 00 Montreal. Feb 27 â€" Choice steers, $10.25: good, $8 lo $10: butcher*' cows, (hoice $7 lo $8.50; good.; $« lo $7: butchers' bull*, choice. $7 to $8.60: good. $6 to $7; eanners' cows. $5. eanners' bulls. $r. 60; calves. $12 to $14; hay-f«d. $6 to $7 sheep. $S to $9: lambs. $13 lo $13.50. hogs, choice selects, off cars, , $1450 tu $16: sows. $12.60 lu $13. RUSSIA IS OPENING OFFICE IN OTTAWA Will Purchase Supplies in Can- ada. Not Throu!J;h New York. I A despatch trom Ottawa .s.iys : â€" The Russian Government, which has hitherto conducted it; war purchases on this continent from New York headquarters, hxs, on the suggestion of the Canadia.i Govemmen'. decided to open up an office at Ottawa, to take charge of the purchasing business in Canada. Col. Kovalcff, of the Rus- sian urniy, has arrived at the capital ' to take charge of the new office, Rus- sia is now buying several million dol- ' lars' worth of various war supplies in Canada, and it is expected that the io.ders will be increased daring the present years. CAl'TLREl) AT LOOS. SENT HO.ME TO DIE. A despatch from London says: The following brief item in the Times tells one of many sad stories: ".\ verdict of death from tuberculosis, accelerat- ed bv privations and unsuitable food IT* ... . „ „, . ..„„ while a prisoner-of-war In Germany, HINGER CLOSES WAR PLANTS. was returned at the inquest on Joseph Wright, aged 'Jt», private in a Lincoln S'* regiment, who died at a military hos- pital on Tuesday. Wright was form- erly a butler in Chester. He was slightl.v wounded and taken prisoner at Loos. He was a prisover-of-war in tiermaiiy nine months before being Thousand .Vustrian Munition Workers Ueporled Out. .\ despatch from Loiilon says: Re- ports from neutral sources tell of in- creasing suffering in Oormany and .â- \ustria as a result of the sh'.->rtage ol coal and food. Six lhou.»aii>i mui^i- sent to Switzerland, where he arrive^ tjun workers in .\ustria have becc ; in a terribly emaciated condition." \ forced to iiuit work l>ecause of hunger, CANADIAN RECORD ^R RAIDS BEATEN BY THE LONDON TROOPS New Zealanders Entered (Jorman Linos South of Armenticres to a IK-pth of 300 Yards. K despatch from British Head- quarters in France says:â€" Further details regarding the successful raid made by the New Zealaiul troop.^ south of Armentieres show that they entered the (ierman lines to a depth of HOtl yards and remained there for half an hour, wrecking dugouts and various trench works. They ftTund the enemy support line.' full of dead from the bombardment ' which preceded the raid. Forty-four prisoners were brought back by them. ! This is but oHt of the succe,-;sful raids carried out. The London troops set a now high record for raids by bringing back I'JO prisoners near Ploegsteert. The Catiadi.-xns prc- , viously held the record of \K)^. The men from Canaila say they are de- termined to exceed the bag of tha Londoners before the raiding season i.-i ended. / •\ > HnLLo,OFKT- .SAN 5E«r wasn't that MlSSRt&p' \oi; WEWe JUST taikimc/ TOf â€" , 'neth.That I UNDERSTAND 5Hfc IS (»0|KG TO Be ^ .MARRlfi-D ? t Neth.inpited ) 5He ITH Isn't itfunnXperv, Mow AI44)melS "nS DAME IIKE TU/>n WILL F|HD iSOMt Poor MDTT TWAT WAMTS To ^WR1^W HER?- WHo I3 6H£[" \i. 4 N % I