TWO
HOW to keep the soldiers supplied with sufficient nourishing food was one of the first and most serious matters the Italian Government had to consider. As everyone knows, the principal articles of food consumption among Italians of every station, rich or poor, are macaroni and spaghetti. The staff of life of the Italian people, they are made almost entirely of flour.
Italy never has grown enough wheat to supply her needs. Under war conditions her imports fell to such an extent that little or no wheat could be obtained. Hence the country faced a critical situation.
The first step was conservation. It was ruled that macaroni and spaghetti could be served only on certain days. Manufacturers were restricted in the amount they could make. Then flours of mixed cereals were used.
Italians are great lovers of bread. To meet a shortage, every available acre of ground where wheat would grow was cultivated. If the men on the farm had gone to war, the women took their places. The Government encouraged and aided the farmers in every possible way, and then when aid came from the United States, in addition to sacrifices and restrictions in Italy, the situation improved.
Fruit and vegetables are plentiful and, for these times, reasonably cheap. Italians are not great meat-eaters; they have sufficient meat for their needs, and by adhering rigidly to the regulations they have been able to keep the army fully supplied.
The Adriatic and the Mediterranean abound with fish of almost every variety. Fishermen are therefore able to meet the country's needs. Next to macaroni and spaghetti the Italians like fish, and as it is far cheaper than meat, for the poorer classes it forms a food which they can afford to buy.
Olive oil, formerly used in great quantities, many of the people even drinking it, is now on the restricted list, and can be obtained only in limited quantities.
Bread, as in America, is mixed with other cereals, and for civilians practically no white bread can be obtained. In the army, there are no restrictions—the best of food is given to the soldiers. They obtain meat, butter, milk, sugar and other edibles denied wholly or in part to civilians.
As in France, wine is a part of the regular rations. Various welfare organizations see that the people do not suffer for want of food. Irrigation and intensive farming, in which representatives of all classes are now helping, is aiding in the solution of the food problem.