New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-07
Navy and Experts
Approach Solution
OfU-Boat Problem
Britain to Follow
Hoover's Plan in
Rationing Nation
Believes American Sys-
tenn in Belgium Will
Solve Problem

London, May 6.-Whether the peo-
pie of the United Kingdom will r.
spond TO appeals for voluntary bread
and wheat -four rationing embodied if
King Georges recent proclamation
and in posters and pamphlets issued by
the Ministry on Food remains to be
seen. In the mean time. the ministry
is working at high pressure to put the
finishing touches on the machine which
will be established for compulsory "a
tioning unless the country cuts down
on consumption sharply Of its own
voliton. The rationing of 100000
or more people presents a tremendous
problem. The ministry. however, be-
lieves that it will be largely solved in
the scheme evolved.
Bearing in mind Germany's ration
ing plan. which is said to be COM
plete failure, Baron Devonport, Food
Controller. has turned to the we'll
nigh perfect organization developed by
Herbert c. Hoover. chairman of the
American Commission for Relief IN
Belgium, for guidance.
Has Obtained Valuable Hints
The different conditions prevailing
in Belgium and England of course.
make it impossible TO employ the Bel
gian scheme as a whole, but the Food
Controller has secured valuable hints
from it for the British food regula-
tions.
The main idea Of the British plan is
decentralization The whole United
Kingdom has been divided into fifteen
areas, each OF wnicn has been sub
divided into cities, boroughs, urban dis
trict councils and rural district coun-
ellis. These final small units will be
charged with distributing bread and
-four 20 the residents in their terri
tory through bread cards or some SINH
lar plan.
A rationing committee, composed OF
Baron DevOnport, Kennedy Jones and
other prominent men, would decide
what ratlons were to oe established,
what divisions there would be of the
population into classes. and other ike
questions. Another advisory commit
tee would handle the finances, and
further committee. under Lord 81.
Davids. would control the mlllers.
Alfred Butt Chief Director
An army of about $4,000, composed
principally of existing officials. who
will assume the rationing work IN ad-
dition to their regular duties, will be
under the direction of Alfred Butt, who
is we'll known on both sides of the At
lantic as a theatrical magnate. Mr..
Butt has been studying the food ra-
tioning question for several months
and becomes chief director under the
new scheme.
The fifteen areas would each nave a
controller, who would be responsible
10 the National Rationing Committee.
Each major area also would have many
minor controllers. who would govern
the workers assigned to distributing
food
II will take about two months 20 IN.
struct those who are being appointed
BIZ the Food Controller in their duties
as rationers. They would be ready
about the middle Of July, and by tEen
it is expected that the people of the
country will have given evidence as TO
whether .hey will comply with the vol.
untary rstioning plan. Harvest condi-
tions and the amount of imports avail
able also will be factors in determine
ing whether the rationing scheme shall
be put into operation.