LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
BREAD VERSUS BEER.
[To THE EDITOIL OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sfe,—The country owes much to you for taking up, with a deter- mination that must surely win success, the cause of " Bread before Beer " and of Prohibition till the danger of food shortage is passed. On Tuesday afternoon (February 7th) Mr. Neville Chamberlain emarked, " Germany means to starve us out before she herself is starved," and called for an answer to her threat. Undoubtedly that answer will be given, as he suggested, in the form of National Service; but it must be given in the form of sacrifice also—the sacrifice of a " luxury," the manufacture of which involves an appalling waste of foodstuffs. The arguments, so ably stated in your articles, are extremely cogent; but you will have a hard fight, for men who do not wish to be convinced have a strange power of shutting their eyes unconsciously to the truth. The country, however, is ready for any sacrifices that are shown to lie needful; and the case for " Down Glasses " now is infinitely etrcnger than it was in May, 1915, when Mr. Lloyd George so nearly carried with him even the late Government to adopt it. As the facts of the situation 'become better appreciated, men will rally to this movement; and all along you will have the grateful support of a host of parents, who dread for their soldier-sons the twin temptations of drink and lust far more than the shells of the enemy.
Since writing this I have read in your last issue the admirable letter signed " G. R. Dennis," and I agree with him that, weighty as are the economic reasons for renunciation of the manufacture and consumption of intoxicants at this time, the spiritual argu- ment is of infinitely greater moment. Such a victory over national self-indulgence might well achieve more than many battles to hasten the end of this long-drawn conflict.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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