Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-11-29
BEHIND
THE News
BY Paul
MaNon
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2S-
w Where are the cigarets?

n
w Where are the cigarets?
This year the country is pro-
ducing the second largest to-
bacco crop in all its history.
Last year il produced the
biggest. The figure for this year
will be 1.072 100000 pounds Of
flue cure, the type used In
cigarets.
or this, the government Is
buying, through the Commodity
Credit Corp. 400 100000 pounds
for lend-lease. Most of il will
go TO the British for their
cigarets, leaving us only two
thirds OF our crop.
TIVE government, you know,
Il has had restrictions not
only on the growing of tobacco
but on the amount to be re-
leased to the cigaret manufac-
turers. At the start OF the
year, il announced il would
give the makers for American
ciearet production only 4S2,-
100000 pounds, then in August
IL upped this figure 10 57S,-
600. 900, in September 10 SPA
100000. and, finally in October,
to 666. 100000.
Within this situation. l think,
Is the basic cause of the diff
Guilty. A furry OF excuses are
being offered on every side,
but this one gets at the heart
of the problem.
OBVIOUSLY. our m n a & e d
" economy in tobacco has not
worked any better than is
noticeable in other farm and
industrial lines. Indeed, the
Commerce Department Bureau
of foreign statistics more than
a year ago was able to forecast
the precise shortage situation
which has now developed. and
the prophesy was based largely
on the factors above described.
Obviously, not enough tobacco
was permitted to be grown three
or four years ago TO take care
of the tremendous demand from
Britain. which has constantly
increased from year to year.
After this explanation, most
Of the others YOU see offered on
every side have authentic secon-
Diary application. Our people
are smoking much more due TO
war strain and swollen pocket
books.
MEN at the front smoke more
1'1 probably than they did at
home. Their shortage situation.
however, probably will be cleared
up shortly. We shipped suffi-
cient quantity of cigarets 10 take
care of the demand to the
United Kingdom distribution
centers.
But in France particularly.
with ports closed, priority had
TO he given to ammunition tenn
porarily.
Whether we can get ours is
doubtful. The reserve supply of
the tobacco companies is low,
They are supposed oNhave al
ready eaten into their normal
two TO three year reserves and
thus abandoned to a consider
able extent their ageing process,
which may account for the fact
that cigarettes taste different
lately.
MO ONE knows much about
~ conditions in the industry.
There have been rumors that the
companies have been running
"a hours a dav but these have
not been verified. Whether the
utmost production of their ma
chimes is maintained cannot now
be said asSuredly.
There are reports also that
some of the large companies are
holding back. and continuing 10
adhere TO their ageing process
in order TO extend their supply
as far as possible.
Yet there are officials here
who will tell you civilians will
not find any real Improvement
in the cigaret situation before
the end of the war.
Perhaps black market hoard
ing can be opped, and an
equitable distribution system
arranged or whatever production
we can muster. If this is done,
some improvement in conditions
is possible. If some of the Com
modify Credit Corps. buying for
Britain is released, it also might
help.
Distributed nv King Features synd Inc.
Reproduction in whole or in part