Scotland's coal export in the first week of April was 103,000 tons, as against 194,000 tons the previous year; from the beginning of the year 1,783,000 tons, as against 2,486,000 tons the previous year.

From this it is easy to see how the operations of the U-boats are striking at the root of railway and war industries in the countries allied with England.
"Lloyd George, in a great speech made on January 22 of this year, showed the English how they could protect themselves against the effects of submarine warfare by increased production in their own country.

The practicability and effectiveness of his counsels are more than doubtful.

He makes no attempt, however, to instruct his Allies how they are to protect themselves against the throttling of the coal supply.
"I come now to the most important point: _the position of England with regard to its food supply_.
"First of all I would give a few brief figures by way of calling to mind the degree to which England is dependent upon supplies of foodstuffs from overseas.
"The proportion of imports in total British consumption averaged during the last years of peace as follows: "Bread-corn, close on 80 per cent.
"Fodder-grain (barley, oats, maize), which can be utilised as substitutes for, and to supplement, the bread-corn, 50 per cent.; meat, over 40 per cent.; butter, 60-65 per cent.

The sugar consumption, failing any home production at all, must be entirely covered by imports from abroad.
"I would further point out that our U-boats, inasmuch as concerns the food situation in England, are operating under quite exceptionally favourable conditions; the world's record harvest of 1915 has been followed by the world's worst harvest of 1916, representing a loss of 45-50 million tons of bread and fodder-grain.