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4 Te Ho 3 A AIN'S FOOD SUPPLY IS LOW _ BAD HARVEST, 07 Farmers Guaranteed Minimum Prices for Six Years on Wheat, Oats, Potatoes, and Farm Laborer's Wage Raised. a ---- G---- despatch from London says: $ er Lloyd George said in a speech the House of Commons on Friday that the ultimate success of the allied Cause depended on the ability to solve he tonnage shortage, which was now affecting ordinary meeds of the nation and military exigencies, . The situation called for the gravest meass ures. The Premier said there was no sure way to victory without hunting the submarine from the deep. En- ormous c~~rifices were necessary from the 1 ritish public and the Gov- ernment proposed to dispense with all non-essential importations to save tonnage. Can Face the Worst. The Premier declared he had not the slightest doubt that if the whole programme were carried out and if all those who could help in production did help, "I honestly say we can face the worst the enemy can do, and that is what we ought to be prepared to do." In dealing with the question 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 are low. This is not due "to submarine, but to the bad harvest. It is essential to the safety of the nation that we put forth every ef- fort to increase production this year. There are still a few weeks to sow spring wheat, oats and barley; to Induce the farmer to plow up pasture land immediately. The Government proposes to guarantee the farmer a minimum price for a definite period, while a minimum wage of 26 shillings weekly will be fixed for the laborer." The Premier sald that before the war British tonnage had been just ade- quate, and since that time there had been an enormous increase in the de- mand for tonnage. More than 1,000, 000 tons of British shipping had been allocated to France alone, and a very considerable amount had been set aside for Russia and Italy; in addition, a considerable amount had been sunk. Must Be Drastic Measures. For some time there has been a large s shortage of tonnage required for the general needs of the nation, and even slight shortage in the tonnage for military purposes. The nation should realize absolutely what the conditions were. "If we take drastic measures," he continued, "we can cope with the sub- ne menace, but if the nation is not prepared to accept drastic measures dealing with the menace disaster is before-us." "The Government is hopeful of find- ing means of dealing with the sub- "marine, but we should be guilty of fol- ly if we rested tranquilly upon the ex- pectation of realization of that hope. We have to deal ruthlessly and promptly with the tonnage problem by measures which impose great sacri- fices upon the country. Three Sets of Measures, "There are three sets of measures: Pirst, by the navy, as described by . 8ir Bdward Carson (First Lord of the * Admiralty); second, the building of ~ merchant - ships; third, dispensing "with unnecessary commodities from abroad and production of as much * food as possible at home." The opinicn was expressed by the Premier that food prices were not like: +1y to decrease for a long time after the war, inasmuch as Germany would then be a heavier purchaser than ever be- fore. Therefore it was safe to grant 'to the farmers a minimum price over _ a definite period of time, which was the only way to bring about immed- 0 afvion. The Premier announced that the Government would guarantee a price "of 38s. 6d. for oats this year, 32s. for the next two years, and 24s, for the 'three following years. The price of potatoes would be guaranteed, for the ming season only, at £6 a ton. For wheat the Government will ntee the farmer the following lnimum prices per quarter: For the % present year, 60s.; for 1918 and 1919, Bbs.; for 1020, 1921, and 1922, 45s. ~~ To Compel Production. The Premier sald powers would be given to the Board of > to compel landowners to cultivate their ground. The minimum wage for farm labor announced by Mr, Lloyd George, 26 shillings a week, represents an in- crease of 50 to 80 per cent. over the present prevailing payment. 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 be . prohibited. The only exceptions made in the pro- hibition of fruit importations will be in the cases of oranges and bananas, in which the amount brought in will be restricted 26 per cent. The same re- striction will apply to nuts. Canned salmon importations will be reduced fifty per cent. The importation of foreign tea, coffee and cocoa is pro- hibited, ahd-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- bibited. Save 900,000 Tons Shipping. The Premier said it was expected to save 900,000 tons of shipping year- ly on foodstuffs. The importation of paper, the Premier announced, must be curtailed by a further 640,000 tons annually. In announcing the decision to restrict the importantion of paper, Mr. Lloyd George said 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 alowed. This would reduce the allowance to 640,- 000 tons. : Essential Foods on Free List. All essential articles of food, he con- tinued, would be on the free list, but certain articles would be reduced or prohibited. The stoppage of im- portation of coffee, tea and cocdw for the time being was due to the fact that plies were on hand. The Premier said he regretted very much the cutting off of certain luxuries which came from France and Raly. These restrictions would be imposed immediately, said the Premier. Steps would be taken to prevent speculative buying, 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 George said it was necessary 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 submarines. Timber to the amount of 6,400,000 tons had been im- ported, 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 timber behind the lines and in England. Another method 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,- 000,000 - tons annually. Regarding this item the Premier said: "We are importing millions of tons, but the importation cannot be diminished wun- less more iron ore is found in. our country. There is plenty of low grade ore, however, in this country, and if the supply of labor can be augmented we can increase enormous. ly our output. The saving of ton- nage would be large, but, unfortunate- ly it would come late in the year." Tonnage Urgently Needed "Farmers can increase even now by hundreds of thousands of tons for this year," said Premier Lloyd George, "the food cupplies of the country. If all the plans are carried out a very considerable quantity of tonnage will -- TE -- to suggest that we who are alle at home should not' to surrender the things unnecessary," VERDUN EFFORTS 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 M 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 Wars 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 German in- fantry. sem emer FOOD SCANDAL IN AUSTRIAN ARMY Troops at Front Were Delibera- tely Left Without Food. i An Exchange telegram despatch from Amsterdam says it is reported from Vienna that Baron Hazali has been removed as Hungarian Minister of National Defence, Major-General von Szurmay having been appointed in his place. This change and also the removal from command of the Austro- Hungarian' army of Field'Marshal Archduke Frederick, who has been | made second in command t¢ the Em- "peror, are reported to have been in consequence of a scandal in the army management which was revealed re- cently at headquarters by the fact { that large bodies of troops were with- 'out food 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 Emperor is said to have decided to proceed with many addi- tional cases which are described as be- ing of a sensational nature. yee ARREST MEMB OF SIN FEIN ORDER Men Released From Internment Camps in England Again in Custody. A despatch from Dublin says: A number of Sinn-Feiners, who had re- cently" returned from internment in| England were arrested on Thursday in| Limerick, Galway and Skibbereen, as 'well as in Dublin. The arrests were made under the defence of the realm g Altogether about fifty members Sinn-Fein and the Gaelic | League had been arrested and arrests {are continuing. Thirty-five men were ! taken into custody in Dublin alone. In Galway on Thursday night a promin- ent member of the Oughterard Dis- trict Council and a prominent Athenry merchant were arrested. those arrested in Dublin, the despatch "says, are Councillor 8. T. Kelly, J. J. O'Kelly, editor of the Catholic Bul-] | act. {of the | to 26ic. Among 3 --Manitoba wheat WH No. 2 do, $1933. 4 wheat, $1.7 LW. Tike 10 2¢; extra NO. : 9% to Tlo, 0. .W., 704 to feed, 104 to 126} No. 1 toed. 6 Ti elivered en route. American corn--No. 8 yellow, $1.15, subject to em 0. a rao: 2 white, 63 to 650, nominal; No. 3 white, 62 to 64c, nomin- al, ncconding to freights outside. Ontario w No. 2 Winter, per car $1.76 to $1.77; No. 3, do. 1.73 to according to freights outs de. --No. 2, $3.45, according to eas freights outside. ley--Malfing, $1.20 to $1.22, ac- cording to freights outside. Buc! wheat --41.35. nominal, according] to_freights outside. Rye--No. 2, $1.40 to $1.42, according to freights- outside. a Manitoba flour--First patents, in jdte s, $9.50; second patents, in jute bags, $i 0; strong bakers', in jute bags, 8.60, Toronto. Ontario four Winter. according 10 sample, $7.26 to .35, In bags, at; prompt shipment) $7.00, bulk seaboard, export grade.' Millfeed--Car lots, delivered Montreal freights, bags included--Bran, per ton, $37; shorts, per ton, 342i -good feed flour, per bag, $2.70 to $2.80. Hay--Extra No. 2, per ton, $12; mixed, per ton, $9 to $11.00, track To- ronto. track To- Straw--Car lots, per ton, $9, ronto. Country Produce--Wholesale Butter--Fresh dairy, choice, 36 to 38¢c: creamery prints, 43 to 46c; solids, 42 to c. Eggs--New-1aid, In cartons, 65 to 56¢c; out, of cartons, 52 to bGéc. -Dressed poultry--Chickens, 23 to 26¢; fowl, 20 to 22¢; ducks, 22 to 26c; squabs, per doz., $4 to $4.60; turkeys, 28 to 33c; geese, 18 to 20c. iv poultry--Row, 1b, 17 to 19¢; chickens, 1b., 18 to 20c. Cheese--New, large, 264 to 26c; twins, 26 to 26ic; triplets, 264 to 26fc; old large, 27c;_ twins, 273 to 27%c. oney--White clover, 2i-lb. vid to l4dc; 83h, tins, 133 to l4e; 1 to 184c; 60-1b, 134 13c: buckwheat, 60-1b. tins, 9 to 93. omb honey--extra fine and heavy welght, per doz. $n select, $2.50 to $2.76; No. 2. 2.25. Potatoes--Ontario, per bag, $3.60; New Brunswick Delawares, or bags $4 to $4.25; Albertad; per bag, $350 to $8.75. eans--Imported, hand-picked, per bush., $6.25; Canadian, hand-picked, per bush., $7.00; Canadian primes, $6.00 to $6.50; Limas, per 1b, 113 to 12c. Provisions--Wholesale Smoked meats---_ Hams, medium, 26 to 27¢; do. heavy, 28 to 24c; cooked, 1 to 88¢; rolls, 21 to 22¢; breakfast bacon, 27 to.29c; backs, plain, 28 to 30c; Bone- less, 31 to 33c. d--Pure lard, tierces, 21} to 21ic; tubs, 21% to 22c: pails, 22 to 23%c; com- pound, 16% to 17c. Cured meats--Long clear bacon, 18 to 183c per lb.; clear bellies, 18 i reic. -- Montreal Markets Montreal, © Feb. 27--Corn--American No. 2 yellow, $1.30 to 1.32. Oats-- Canadian Western, No. 2, 76 to 76c;. do, No, 3, 78 to T4c; extra No. 1 feed, 78 to 74c, Flour--Man. Spring wheat patents, , $9.60; seconds, $9.10; strong '. $8.90; Winter patents, choice, $9.25; straight rollers, $8.60 to $8.80; straight rollers, bags, $4.10 to $4.26) Rolled oats--barrels; $6.75 to $7.15; do, bags, 90 1bs., $3.25 to $3.45. Bran, $35; Shorts, $38; Middlings, $40 to+§42; Moutllle, $46 to $50. Hay--No. 2, per ton, cat lots, $18. Cheese--finest west- erns, 26 to 26dc; do. finest easterns, 25 Butter<--choicest cremarey; 42 to 48¢; seconds, 89 to 4lc. Egg fresh, 65 to_58c; 'selected, 48¢; 3 stock, 46c. Potatoes--per bag, car lots, $3.00 to $3.50, Winnipeg Grain Wi $1.733; Nort $1.380 No. 8 GW. ©; No. 3 CW. = No. 1 feed, b6ic. 0. 2 feed, 65ic. + Bal 4 W., 97¢c; No, 4 C.W., 92¢c; rejected. 80c; feed, , 1 NNW.C, $2,638; No. 2 C.W., $2.50%. United States Markets neapolis, 27--Wheat, May, Min 1.80; July, § . Cash--No. 1 hard, 180 to $1.04; No. 1 Northern, $1.82 to 1.88; No. 2 t No, 3 whi 2 $1. patents, $9.45; ears, $8.25; other grades unchanged. Bran unchanged. Du Feb. Ji Wheat, No. Northern, $1.828; N to $1.908. od, 2.82; to arrive, $2.81}; ; July, $2.83% asked. 2.814 to .838 ask letin; Darrel Figgis, a well-known ; writer, and Captain Liam Mellowes. The Doings ts, made by the Live Stock Markets . Toronto, Feb, 27--Cholce heavy steers, of MOST OF THE UBOATS SINK BUT SOME HAVE BEEN ( Fully 200 Have Not Returned to Their Base, Declares Alfred Noyes, the English Poet. A despatch from New York says:-- 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- serted 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. "All the home waters are mapped out in blocks and each block patrolled. "Imagine 60 trawlers stretching a steel undersea net from the English to the Irish coast and you get some idea of the British Admiralty's anti. submarine campaign, by which the German submersibles have been driv- en from home waters and forced to at- tack neutral vessels on the high seas." Mr, Noyes seid he had spent many days with the trawlers, and was in- formed by their captains that a sub- marine rarely will attack an armed vessel, What becomes of a sub- marine after it strikes a trawler's net, the poet said, is a naval secret. "Some have been 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 to say." ; 10.85 to $11.26; do., good, $10.35 to 10.60; butchers' cattle, choice, $10.35 to 5: do. Sood, $580 to $10.10; do., 0 . $8.76 to $9.00; do. common, 7.50 to $7.67; butchers' bulls, choice, 338 ; do., good bulls, $8.40" to do., rough bulls, § cows, choice, $8.90 to $8.40 to $8.60; d stockers, $6.26 $8.25 to $8.75; 0., medium, $7 to $8; choice feeders, canners and cutters. $8 to $5.50; milkers, good to choice, 385 to $110; do, com. and med., ea., $40 to $60; springers, $50 40 $110; to $10.60; sheep, heavy, $8.60 to $9.50; calves, good to choice $12.76 to $14.75; lambs, choice, $14 to $15; do. medium, $9.76 to $10.25; hogs, fed and watered, $14.76; do., weighed off cars, $15; do. f.o.b., $14.00. Montreal, Feb. 27--Cholice steers, $10.26; good, $8 to $10; butchers' choice, $7 to $8.60; good,; $6 to 3 butchers' bulls, choice, $7 to $8.60; good, $6 to $7; canners' cows, $5; oanners' bulls, $6.60; calves, $12 to §14; hay-fed, 8 to $7: sheep, $8 to $9; lambs, $13 to 13.50; hogs, cholce selects, off cars, 14.50 to $15; sows, $12.50 to $13. pie CAPTURED AT LOOS, SENT HOME TO DIE. A despatch from London says: The following brief item: in the Times tells one of many sad stories: "A verdict of death from tuberculosis, accelerat- ed by privations and unsuitable food while a prisoner-of-war in Germany, was returned at the inquest on Joseph Wright, aged 29, private in a Lincoln regiment, who died at a military hos- pital on Tuesday. Wright was form- erly a butler' in Chester. Hé was slightly wounded and taken prisonér at Loos. He was a prisoper-of-war in Germany nine months before being sent to Switzerland, where he arrived ina terribly emaciated condition." RUSSIA IS OPENING OFFICE IN OTTAWA Will Purchase Supplies in Can: ada, Not Through New York. A despatch trom Ottawa say} :-- The Russian Government, which has hitherto conducted its war purchases on this continent from New York _ headquarters, has, on the suggesti of the Canadian Governmen®, decided = to open up an office at Ottawa, to take == charge of the purchasing business in Canada. Col. Kovaleff, of the Rus- sian army, 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 o.ders will be increased during the present years. \ af ei HUNGER CLOSES WAR PLANTS. Six Thousand Austrian Munition Workers Reported Out. A despatch from London says: Re- rts from neutral sources tell-of' in- creasing. suffering in Germany and Austria as & result of the shortage of coal and food. Six thousand muni- tion workers in Austria' have beer. forced to quit work because of hunger, 'CANADIAN RECORD FOR RAIDS BEATEN BY THE LONDON TRO New Zealanders Entered German Lines South of Armentierés. + A despatch from British Head- quarters in France says:--Further details regarding the successful raid New Zealand troops south of Armentieres show that they entered the German lines to a depth of 300 yards and remained there for 4 Of half an hour, wrecking/dugouts and various trench worksi * They found the enemy support lines: full of dead from the bombardment the Duffs. * to a Depth of 300 Yards. / 5 which preceded the raid." Forty-four prisoners were brought back by them. This is but one of the successful raids carried out. The d.ondon troops set a new high record for raids by * bringing back 120 prisoners near Ploegsteert. The Canadians pre- viously held the record of 100. The men from Canada say they are de- termined to exceed the bag of the Londoners before the raiding season is ended. Ls ' \ | HELLO, BERT -- SAY, pe * WASN'T THAT Miss RgeD 1S GOING 1NoU WERE: JUST TALKING Cd [UNDERSTAND SHE: | TSE NETH, INDEED NN NN TO BE TST IT FUNNY, Ber, How AHomeLY 9, SHeTH A Mel T-- 7 _INGAGED To [> RTRSY : St