The Washington herald., 1918-07-26
SUGAR RATION
IN MONTH CUT
TO 2 POUNDS
Food Office Acts to Meet
Needs Of Army and
Allies.

The American ration of three
pounds of sugar per capita per
month was cut yesterday to two
pounds by the United States Food
Administration.
The order takes effect on August
l, and is expected to remain in force
until January /. 1t may be pos
sibIe at that time to loosen the re-
strictions somewhat.
A similar order to public eating
houses limits their sugar supply to
two pounds for every ninety meals.
At the present time, no further re-
duction will be placed on the soft
drink manufacturers, who are al
ready operating on a SO per cent
basis. The Food Administration eX-
poets that the domestic reduction
to two pounds will save enough
sugar to meet the necessities of our
allies.
The ration remains a voluntary
one, and there is no intent to make
it compulsory. but the supplies of
sugar on hand are to be allotted
to the various States on the two
pound basis, and failure of volun-
tary rationing in any State will
create a deficit in that State which
will not be met by the National
Administration by further alloca-
tions.
Allies Have Low Rations.
The reduction became necessary
TO met the pledges being made by
Food Administrator Hoover to the
allies. England is now on a two
pound basis. though before the war
she used more sugar than the United
States. France allows its people a
maximum OF a pound and a half;
while the Italian ration is a pound.
These are compulsory rations.
Recently these nations have been
unable to meet even these rations and
have called 20 America for help. The
sugar supplies in this country are at
low ebb. The production from this
years domestic cane and beet crops
have been Disappointing; the Porto
Rican crop is below normal; and lack
Of shipping has prevented free move
ment from Java and other distant
sources of supply. Recently over
81, ,OOO, 600 pounds were lost in subma-
rine sinkings.
Abroad the German invasion Of
France has destroyed a great proper
ton of the sugar beet acreage in that
country, and the enemy is in possess
sion of many Of the larger beet-sugar
factories.
On ton Of the shortage at home
and abroad comes greatly increased
demand from our overseas army
largely exceeding the earlier esti-
mates, and this country is under
agreement to supply certain fixed
amounts Of sugar to neutral nations
in exchange for other necessary food
products.
The only way to meet these various
demands is to apply the same sort OF
a conservation program that saved the
allied wheat situation. America with
no reserve on hand was able to save
frcm its current requirements 10000
Ooo bushels of wheat for shipment
abroad. 1t is called now to save as
carefully on sugar.
Use syrups and JeIlies-
Substitution of corn syrups and
iellies for sugar in cooking can ef-
feet much of this, saving sugar for
use in tea and coffee only.
The Food Administration is con-
fident that the American people will
heartily agree to reduce the house
hold use of sugar" says bulletin
from the Food Administration, ito
a level more nearly equal to the
present restrictions among the peo-
pies of the allies, provided our peo-
pie clearly comprehend that sugar,
which with us is often used in q
great measure as a luxury, has be-
come an essential element for the
success Of the war. Upon our ac-
ton depends the possibility of main
tanning the ration to our own fight
ing men and those Of the allies.
Furthermore. unless there is strict
economy. the supplies for Belgium
and those required by the Red
Cross, the Y. NJ. c. A, Knights Of
Columbus, Salvation Army and
other agencies working for the WELL
| being of our soldiers abroad. can
not be maintained