CHEWING GUM RATIONS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16147, 27 February 1918, Page 9

CHEWING GUM RATIONS

AMERICAN FIRM'S ORDERS

We may soon eomc to chewing gum rations! (.says a London paper). Restrictions due to short-ago of tonnage nave been put on the import of American chewing gum to Europe and consequently there are fewer jaws at work. It would not have mattered so much if the chewing gum king Mr Wriglcy, who eamo to England six years ago and finding'the jaws of the nation kilo determined to set them all in motion chewing his own particular gum. '"What extraordinary people.'' he said. '"They wear elothcs, brusli their hair, eat three meals a day, hut they do not chew gum. 1 must see io this sit once."' And he did. 'At iirst the British public were not to bo easily tempted, but by March, 101<5. u,000,000 packets were being sold every mouth. In August, 1910, the number rose to 20,0'J0,u00. Before the end of the year the average was -10.000.000 packets, nearly one packet for everyone in the British Isles.

The habit took a tremendous held on the A:niy. Of conrsc the Canadian Army chewed all the way across the Atlantic and have been chewing ever isince, and are. doing so to-day on the Passciiendaelo Ridge.

But t'.ow a good many civilians must go without, for the Armies must bv; the larst to be denied.

The manager of Wrigley's in London informed a reporter that lie had orders on hand to the value of £S0,0C(), wlrch lie was yuito unable to meet. One of the problems of the transport of supplies for the great Army of the United States when it arrives will be the despatch of adequate quantities oi chewing «um. These soldiers cannot be expected to give up the habit of a lifetime, for practically every American chcws all aay and every day of his life. Olio firm alone in the United Stales sells £8,000,000 worth of clicking gum every year.