America on Shorter Rations

Levin Daily Chronicle, 5 February 1918, Page 1

America on Shorter Rations

"Wo will not fail to meet the emergency." Mr Hoover's definite promise, in reply to Lord Rhondda's sensational cablegram regarding the food requirements of the Allies, has the prompt support of the President, whose appeal to the nation - will, if it meets with the desired response, enable Mr Hoover to make good his word. Mr Wilson asks the American people, many of whom are now denying themselves meat and wheat foods 011 one day of the week each,, to observe two wheatless clays, 0110 meatless day, and one porkless day each week, and also to make one meal each, day a wheatless one. Only by such self-sacrifice can America supply the Allies with the foodstuffs necessary to enable them to win the

There is little doubt as to the effect of the President's appeal. Wheatless and meatless days were initiated in the United States on November Ist, and in sis-'weeks the results of the economies thus effected, as announced by the Federal Food Administration, were amazing. In the period mentioned Americans had saved, in round numbers the following enormous quantities.

Tons. Wheat 139,000 Meat 80,000 Sugar 107,000 Fats 21,400 The above amount of wheat repreroughly, rather more than live million bushels. These figures, it stated, were considered conservative by food'esperts, as reports were not avaaable from many thickly populated centres which were enthusiastically supporting the Food Administration 'a conservation campaign.

Up to the middle of last month about one-half of 12,000,000 of* the housewives of the United States had. signed the Hoover pledge cards, and it was calculated that if they lived up to their promises, and carried out the requests of the Food Administration, they would in the coming twelve months cut the food consumption of their households to four-fifths of what it tyas in the past year. The President's appeal provides, of course, for still greater savings, which will indeed be absolutely necessary if the extra seventy-live million bushels required by Lord Rliondda is to be provided.