13 JANUARY 1917, Page 2

In the first place, we feel that while the Government

insist that we are a beleaguered city, it is madness to go on turning, food, stuffs into intoxicants. That side of the matter is, however, fully dealt with in the- fable which we have placed at the- head of our leading columns. The only thing that we need add is that we- are still unconvinced by Mr. Prothero's desire to follow the Chinese plan of burning down the house in order to produce roast pig. If barley is imperatively needed to feed the miloh-cows, let us set aside so much for that purpose, but let us do it directly, and not through the medium of beer, by which all but a fraction of the grain is, as far as food is concerned, hopelessly wasted.