New-York tribune., 1918-01-26
Nation Must Reduce Other
Food Consumption, Too,
He Says
President to Issue
Proclamation To-day
No Real Privation, but
"Those Who Have Most
Must Save Most"
[Stdf Correspondence

NASNtNN t-\, Jan. 20.-Amerlca
must reduce its wheat consumption 80
perccent until the next harvest. Cor
respondingy large savings of meats.
fats and sugar must be effected. Those
who have most must save most. Those
are the salient points in an appeal for
more stringent food conservation ad-
dressed TO the American public TODAY
bv Food Administrator Herbert c.
Hoover.
At ess. 100000 bushels of wheat
over and above the quantity exported
I'D to January l must be supplied to
the French. English and Italian govern
ments TO tide them over until the next
havests, according to figures laid
before the food administration by Lord
Rhondda, British Food Controller. In
addition to this great quantity of bread
cereal, which must be made available
through conservation, there must be
100000 bushels for Belgian relief
and at leas, 10000 900 bushels for Cuba
and other neutrals.
Hoover's Statement
The statement given out by the
United States food administration fol-
lows:
"The food situation in Europe has
become steadily more difficult and
larger demands have now been made
upon US than ever before
"On January l we had already ex-
ported the sixty million bushels Of
wheat which comprised our normal
surplus from the last harvest. The
latest cable from Lord Rhondds, who
speaks on behalf of the wheat control
OF the French, English and Italian gov
ernments, needs no added word from
ne:
Unless you are able to send the Allies
at least 10000 000 bushels of wheat over
and above what you have exported UP to
January L. and in addition to the toal ex-
portable surplus from Canada. I cannot
take the respousi ibiity of assuring our
people that there will be food enough to
Win the war. lmperative necessity compels
knows better than | that the American
people. regardless Of national and individ-
ual sacrifice have far refused nothing
that IS needed for tho war but it now lies
with America 70 decide whether or not the
All,es in Europe shall have enough bread
TO hold out until the United States is able
TO throw its force into the field I have
not minced words because | am convinced
that the American people. if they know
the truth. will not hesitate to meet the
emergency
1t Depends on America
We have replied
we VIII export every grain that the
american people save from their normal
consumption. We believe our peonle ,rill
not fail to meet the emergency
IN ADDITION to this amount for tho
Aliles We must find 100000 bushels
Tor the Belgian relief, or these people
whom we have supported all these
three years viii starve; and we mus
also furnish some 100000 bushels
Tor Cuba and other neutrals. upon
whom we are dependent for other foods
IN return. We estimate the American
people have saved as much as 10000. 900
bushels out Of last harvest. and if we
are to meet the increased demands we
must rlgldly reduce our CONSUMPTION
10 so per cent below normal until next
harvest
Beef Is Needed, Too
IN beef our pre-war exports to the
Allies averaged less than 600 900
pounds month During the last two
Years we have averaged about o.
oVo,oo0 pounds month. They are send
lng their boats to load an average of
'ooOo0Oo pounds month during the
next three months. Our own army an
parently uses about 100000 pounds
month more than normal to these
same men. Our cattle have not in
creased. We can only provide these
Gratis upon us by reducing our con-
SUMPTION
AS we cat moro meat than we need
% preserve health. this will 60 no
nafn- Our production averages rough
boVoOo.O0O pounds per month, and
,nese demands represent little over
~ per cent Of our consumption. Our
own domestic beef consumption has in
creased from about seventy pounds per
person per annum to about eighty
pounds during the last five years. The
public health has been no better dur
ing this last period. IF we could get
uacH to oHr pre-War meat consumption
we w, should solve our present problem
iae meatless day has made it possible
lor Us to maintain these exports for
me present.
Hogs OF Grca: Importance
Our average monthly production of
nog products is, roughly, 5o,0o0,o0o
pounds We need to export an increase
VNer pre-war averages of 100 100000
pounds, and, as our supplies are below
nofMal, we need to save at least 20
yer cent until such time as our hog
supply Increases.
~ the Cuban sugar crop yields rs
..ssllmatcd We will need to save from
euV'oVV to 900 tons of sugar from
our normal consumption if the Allies
"'. ..r, 10 De supplied 10 per cent.
me President Will tomorrow issue
r. programme for food conservation.
ns "e programme in many particulars is
e1 necessity largely voluntary, but in
n rsne particulars it can be enforced
,on1 n"uer the food bill. In any event no
noa I"eaSure that has not the loyal sup
evas eva OF the ma ajority of our people can
ever succeed
tba' ~ wo.'d be easier for us to ask less
s,t .q" necessity demands. What we do
js are not large percentages there
We no prlvatlon in them. In any event,
n.y. nave no intention Of exporting
AMI lnan our savings. for we must
own VIII protect the food supply of our
Will people. Therefore, the fulness
is a "hlch we can meet these demands !
vI;eeermined simply by our monthly |
vh;v,e 1--WE have abundant other foods
no., .n we can substitute for the ex-
e,;n,s wanted. and if we could only
co'aate all waste and all unnecessary
le,n ".pelon 1t would solve the prob |
ara "A large number Of our people |
sumn.o Mot IN position to reduce con-
cesst, cet,.oh' Their daily life is of ne