The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-27
wheat RATION REDUCED,
fCKTHER REDUCTION ASKED BY
HOOVER THAT SCANT SUP
PIX MAY LAST UNTIL THE
NEXT HARVEST.
step Absolutely Necessary to Ward
VII faminc from the Allies. SAYS
the Food Administration.

"ho'' wills aSked OF the public tonight
by the food administration that the
scant supplies available before the
next harvest may be stretched to meet
the needs of the army, consumers and
the Allies.
EVERY American is urged to cut his
average ration Of wheat by so per
cent. which would reduce the total
normal consumption of 1900, 600
bushels month to 100000. That
gives ration of not more than | | 2
pounds OF wheat products weekly for
each person.
Flour sales will be cut to one eighth
or barrel for a town consumer and
10 one-quarter of barrel for a coun-
try customer, that retailers stocks
may be distributed to as great a num-
ber as possible.
The wheat content of bakers bread
VIII be reduced to rs per cent on April
IA, which increases by per cent. the
amount of substitutes that must be
used.
Sacrifice in the wheat ration will
entail no hardship in the opinion of
food administration officials because
the supply Of potatoes, corn, oats and
milk is ample to maintain health.
The full seriousness of the wheat
situation. and some Of the difficulties
With which the food administration
nas had to contend in warding of
famine from the Allies became known
With the announcement of the new
plans
r With food ratiOns i'm France and
England cut to the utmost, there has
been constant danger that the United
states could not meet even minimum
demands because of the transport
handicaps. The breakdown in the
'ailoads upset the corn expectation
schedule so that on March there
lad been sent abroad only 14,000,-
100 bushels, against the $4,000. 900
bushels of last year, and the lOO,-
100000 bushels which it was hoped to
'end. Accordingly the foreign popu-
ations have been dependent on wheat.
The food administration statement
'ollows:
p IF we are to furnish the Allies with
he necessary proportion OF wheat to
maintain their war bread from now
Until the next harvest. and this is n
military necessity, we must reduce our
monthly consumption to 21,00G,0 600
'ushels, or so per cent of our normal
distribution to the army and for spc-
lal cases, leaving for general con-
sumption approximately l-2 lbs. OF
wheat products weekly person
Many OF our consumers are depend
mt upon bakers bread. Such bread
must be durable and therefore re-
iuires larger proportion of wheat
PRODUCTS than cereal breads baked in
he household. Our army and navy
'equire a full allowance. The we'll
.o-do in our population can make
;reater sacrifices in the consumption
IF wheat products than can the poor
with improved transportation con-
litions we now have available q sur
)lus of potatoes We also have in the
spring months a surplus of milk and
we have ample corn and oats for hu-
nan consumption
ITO effect needed saving of whe at
we are wholly dependent upon the
Voluntary assistance OF the American
people and we ask that the following
rues shall be observed
"Householders to use not to exceed
total Of ] l-2 pounds per week of
wheat products per person. This
means not more than | "a pounds Of
.ictory bread containing Il e requir-
'd percentage of substitutes and one
half pound OF cooking flour. maca~
'oni, crackers. pies. pastry. cakes,
wheat bread. breakfast cereal. all
combined.
Public eating places and clubs to
observe two wheatless days per week,
Monday and Wednesday, as at pres
mt In addition thereto not to serve
my one guest at meal an aggregate
of hrcadstuffs. macaroni. crackers.
pastry, pies. cakes. wheat breahfas;
cereals, containing total OF more
than two ounces of wheat ilour No
wheat products to be served unless
specially ordered. Public eating es-
Establishments not TO buy more than
six pounds Of wheat products for
each ninety meals served. Thus con
forming to the limitations requc Sted
Of the hOuSchOldcrS