New-York tribune., 1918-02-12
Embargoes Will Give Right
of Way to Fuel and
Foodstufs
Rail Congestion
Reason for Step
Vessels Can't Garry Away
the Munitions Now Piled
Up at Docks
IStof Correspondencel

t@S"0 WI GO PVfNuCNCSJ
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-Retarda-
ton of the wheels of war industry, with
few exceptions, for a period of at least
several weeks, has been urged upon
the President by the Shipping Board
and the food and fuel administrations.
1t is understood that the proposed
slowing down of industry to-day had
received the Endorsement of the War
Council. 1t is anticipated that the
President will accept the practically
unanimous advice of his most impor-
tant departmental heads and that the
retardation programme will be made
effective within the next week through
the PRONUNCIATION of the new fuel cur
tailment orders by the fuel administra-
tion and freight embargoes by the rail-
road administration.
Two major reasons are advanced in
explaining the proposed drastic meas
nres
Ffrst-The further relief of rail
road congestion, the movement of
perishable foodstuffs to both the do
mestic markets and the export termi-
mails, and the further distribution of
fuel to the East,
Second-Concenrration of both
railroad facilities and industries on
the shipbuilding programme.
The railroads are now the kew TO the
entire American war programme. They
are the meek of the BOTTLE" as one
prominent ocial has expressed it.
through which the entire product of the
war industry must pass before it be-
comes effective in advancing the sup
port Of the United States to the Allies
Rail Facilities Inadequate
Even with the operating advantages
acquired through government control of
railroads, high officials are now agreed
that the available rail facilities are
totally inadequate to handle the con-
ss1tantly increasing burden imposed by
me speeded IN war industries.
ne mouth of the bottle" is ships.
ana war supplies are piling up at the
.eaooard terminals faster than there is
.onnage to move them. The resulting
oee"ses'lon brings an utter confusion
70 the seaboard, with the result that
we ofe unnecessary is shipped to Europe
olten ahead of the essential in order
~ eA'rlcate more urgently required
materials from the terminal lam.
Building Materials DELAYED
another phase of the situation bear
ing on ships is the delay during recent
weeks in moving building materials to
me ae Yards because of the burden of
Lener freight on the railroads. This
nay nay caused at times fully SO per cent
.suuclioh .s IN the possible progress of
'NS snlpplng programme
Everything must be suborcenated
curing the next few months f. is NV,
agreed. to the movement Of food and
luei and the expedition of all necessary
supplies to the shipyards. The only
s. va! lhls can be accomplished. it is
Sseeeu' Will be to relieve the railroads
I'm part of. the traffic now imnosed
or them. ~" '''poseo
:; Ihs has brought up again the oues-
s'oh OF essential and non-essent;al
rts;ooucts. tt; After a thorough study Of
WIS rn's question officials are agreed that
h"..y ha.y so-ca!led essential products can
o.sler n. be eliminated during the emer-
s@Wvty perioc than the non-essential.
no;nay ;any essential war products, it is |
pv'nted out, are not urgently needed
;vfaers placed by the government dur-
.;g .Hg the early months of our participa-
f.a on IN the war, in many lines of manu-
s".si "ssureo products there are already
su'piuses so great that there will bc |
ri ri "eeo Tor them for months to come. |
@ rneh there are no ships to move this
ths production, 1T is pointed out, SO |
sa, s.a' TO move them to seaboard merely
N'' 10 the terminal congestion.
Hardships Are Feared
10 lnaugurate sweeping curtailment
H.; ieiatively non-essential products at
sar ss time, 1T is stated would work a
nfi.ous "f .os dlslocation of business. Most
ufoo. ,.e nom essential materials are man
sn1 ae'urcd for domestic consumption.
ana their sudden withdrawal wonld
dna. dotk needless hardship both on the in
'uSS!ries and on the public.
spontaneously with the readjust
lim;..o INV OF war production to meet the
canaa;. imposed by railroad and ship
tp"el'y :" there will be redoublcd efforts
ays;iet het all possible utility out of the
coie aIiaoie tonnage and to speed IN tho
obstruction ~, of new bottoms.
sc;ne hrst move to increase the ef
tslncy OF American bottoms willie be
nIas en tomorrow when the division of
pnn'hg and statistics of the Shippnr
,n;s,i Haio "'il report to Vance c. McCor.
"''N' 49, chairman of the War Trade Board
nm ;n plan Of proposed reductions in
VIII fpot's. This report, it is anticipated
cas n! more affect the Pacific trade now
sil'ed s,i'ed IN Japanese bottoms than the
ns'an.'c or South American traffic. It
NJ eventually lead to the transfer
,on greater percentage Of Japanese
nota5ge no.hage to the Atlantic, it is antici