Evening star., 1942-11-18
"A Gas Coupons Cut
From 4 10 ; Gallons.
Effective Sunday
Africun Offensive BIumed
In Port for Reduction;
B. and C. Values Same

The Once OF Price Administration
last night announced that effective
November %, the value OF the "A"
gasoline coupon would be reduced
from four to three gallons in the
District and 16 Eastern States,
thereby cutting the estimated mile
age possible for basic bookholders
from 240 to 18O miles a month.
Value Of "B" and &C" coupons will
remain at four gallons.
To become effective in all of the
currently rationed area with excep-
ton OF West Virginia, the action
was taken to help relieve the critical
petroleum shortage resulting from
the inability to transport as much
oil overland as anticipated and in
tensif1ed by heavy military require
ments" for the offensive in Africa.
OPA took no action to reduce oil
rations for home heating, but stated
that some further cuts may be re-
quired later. The coupon value cut
was described as but one of several
steps to effect large-scale curtail-
ments Of civilian consumption of
petroleum in the East as directed
last week by Chairman Donald M.
Nelson of the War Production Board
on the advice of Petroleum Co.
ordinator Ickes.
May Ask Supplemental Gas.
Other measures are now being
drafted, OPA stated, to curtail fuel
oil consumption in non-war indus
tries and for heating certain types
of buildings, and will be announced
shortly.
Price Administrator Leon Hen
derson declared that persons who
find the reduced "A" coupons in
sufficient to meet their essential
driving needs may apply to local
rationing boards for supplemental
rations. Official estimates show
there are a large number of essen
tial drivers who have been issued
no more than the basic ration.
Reduction in value of "A" coupons
will not be extended to the rest OF
the country when Nationwide
rationing becomes effective Deem
Der l. though the coupons of a
motorist from another section will
be worth only three gallons If used
in the East.
Mr.. Henderson said cutting
gallon from the "A" coupon will
effect net saving OF about 10000
barrels of gasoline day. Mr.. Ickes
advised reducing petroleum con-
sumption in the East. 139 900 barrels
day, Of which $4,000 would be cut
from gasoline. OPA stated that
savings aggregating $4,000 barrels
per day will be realized through con-
version of IS" rations to the new
and more stringest "I"' rations for
trucks, buses and taxicabs.
Other Savings in Prospect.
Some 5000 barrels daily. OPA said.
will be saved through additional
conversion of oil heating plants to
other fuels. Other large savings are
now being made in renewal of &C"
rations on much stricter basis.
Mr.. Henderson said these steps
EWlll free transportation space for
large additional quantities of oil for
the Army and Navy and for heating
spurposes.. He said 1t was necessary
Sssu make shipments OF oil from the
East coast to our forces in Africa,
and. that the current shortage in this
area was threatening operations Of
war plants. Decision was made to
cut the IA" COUPON, he continued,
since the greatest effect of curtaiI-
ment will fall on the least essential
driving group.
This cut is going to hurt. but IT,
Is absolutely necessary, Mr.. Hender-
son said. "OCD and ODT are taking
the lead in helping motorists
organize car sharing clubs that can
relieve much of the hardship of this
cut for many motorists. Motorists
should try to get along on the re-
duced supply. Don't. go to your
Ration Board for. more unless it is.
absolutely necessary
OPA previously had estimated that
nearly 10 per cent of Eastern motor
lists operated their cars with "A"
books only.