23 DECEMBER 1916, Page 2

On Wednesday night Mr. Prothero, Minister of Agriculture, in whose

knowledge,, capacity, and sound sense we place the very greatest reliance, made a statement_aa to his duties and the duties of the nation. Next to munitions, the production of food. at home is the thing essential. Great Britain, he said in words which unfortunately are absolutely and not merely figuratively true, "is a beleaguered city," and a beleaguered city, we must add, which has neglected to keep the national storehouses and cupboards full, though it has had two and a half years' warning not only of what might happendaut what it was almost certain would happen. The war, Mr. Prothero went on to' say, may be won or lost in. our corn and potato fields.