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Show ZONE SYSTEMFOR i ARMY'S PURCHASES t - - - , TERRITORY HAS BEEN ALLOTTED TO EACH OF THIRTEEN GENERAL GEN-ERAL SUPPLY DEPOTS. - ORDNANCE EQUIPMENT READY ' i ' . -: ... i ; ' . 1 Every Soldier Leaving for France Has Been Fully Outfitted American Merchant Take Over the Interest of German Fur Men. (From Commltte on Public Information.) 1 Washington. A zone system for the apportionment of purchases throughout through-out the United States and to facilitate distribution has been established by the quartermaster department. Territory Terri-tory has been allotted to each of 13 general supply depots. The general supply depot . quartermasters are charged with the duty of ascertaining the manufacturing possibilities of their cones. On the basis of reports along this line forwarded to the acting quartermaster quar-termaster general, food and equipment equip-ment for troops at the different camps ,wlll be purchased within the zone in jWhich the camp is located. Formerly nearly all of a particular 'class of supplies was purchased , through a single general supply depot. Other articles were obtained through other supply depots. Manufacturers iln sections distant from the particular supply depot buying their goods were at a disadvantage, and were unable to .compete with rivals nearer the point. Under the new system most classes of supplies will be purchased through each of the 13 depots, and manufacturers manufactur-ers will be able to transuct their business busi-ness through the depots nearest them. Arrangements are being competed by which the interests of German fur men, amounting to several millions of dollars, will be purchased by American merchants and the money thus paid turned into the treasury. ' Before the war broke in Europe, according ac-cording to a stateueut issued by the alien property custodian, the trade of American furriers was practically nothing noth-ing but a collecting and shipping agency for the Germans. Almost every pelt taken by American trappers went to Leipzig before It could be sold. Although Al-though London was the world's market, mar-ket, three-quarters of the fur shipped to London from America, Russln, aid even China, went to Leipzig for dressing dress-ing and dyeing. The Leipzig dressers and dyers were recognized as the best in the world. Each year after the fur was prepared and German merchants had fixed the price, Americans were allowed to purchase pur-chase as much as three-fifths of the year's output for manufacture into garments, but in so doing tiey were forced to pay the original cost, expense ex-pense of dressing and dyeing, a big profit to the Germans, and a 30 per cent duty, before the furs were returned re-turned to America. The war deprived Germany of the chance to purchase fur in London, and limited the supply from America now also entirely cut off. According to the Leipzig correspondent correspond-ent of a Christlanla newspaper, the Leipzig spring fair showed exhibits of many substitutes and surrogates which have been placed on the market in Germany. Descriptions of some of these have been received by the United Unit-ed States chamber of commerce: A surrogate for pepper is offered for sale which. Judged only by Its appearance, appear-ance, seems almost the same as real pepper. The color, odor and taste have been surprisingly well imitated. A tea is shown to which the name of "German tea" has been given. It is prepared from any one or a combination combina-tion of a great variety of plants, from strawberry leaves to linden blossoms. . '" Each general supply depot qunrter- master besides ascertaining production facilities within his zone Is Instructed to recommend to the quartermaster general's office the employment of such producers as are in his judgment qunl-ifled qunl-ifled to fulfill contracts. Each depot . ! ,; Is expected to keep Informed as to r ' market conditions and spot goods located lo-cated In that zone, and when shortages short-ages occur submit recommendations for purchase of -articles which may ' " be obtained within the zone. Pwrchnses are to be made after ad-f ad-f ; ' . vertlsement by open competitive hid-' hid-' ding when time will permit In emer- I geucy cases competition U desired whenever possible. The record of bids received and awards made will be open to public Inspection. ' The army ordnance department has thus far met very demand Imposed by the new program for overseas shipment ship-ment of American troops, according to i a statement hv the rturtmint, Des- ; pite the great acceleration In the send-lug send-lug of American forces to France, no Infantryman goes aboard ship without a United States model 1917 rifle (modified (modi-fied Enfield), bayonet, belt haversack, pack enrrier, bandoleers, bayonet i scabbard, and full mess equipment . - Toniwge la' today a limiting factor in the shipment of ordnance material y .overseas, especially because of that i - present necessity of Increasing the S transport of Infantry regiments. ; Sufficient supplies of artillery 'ki French 75-uillllmoters and 156-mllll- ff meters and American heavy railway ! artillery are already In France to I meet the present demand. Sufficient ' unuhlnsgtius are also Immediately , available for American forces In : France. A Canadian order In council pro-'i pro-'i Tides that no person, with the excep- ! Hon of manufacturers of flour, baker, f confectioners, wholesale or retail deal- er, or persons living at a greater dls- i ' itance than twt miles from a licensed dealer, shall hold or have In his po-, po-, session or under hi control more flour, i made wholly or In part from wheni, j than Is sufficient for his ordinary re- quiremeuts for a perbnl not exceeding j , lo days. I , Anyone living at a distance greuter ' thau two miles and less than Hve miles I 'from a licensed dealer may bold or ' control flour made whlly r In part ? from wheat up to an aruouut sufficient f for his ordinary requirements for a , -t period not exceeding 80 days. Any-'; Any-'; one living more than live and less than ten miles from a licensed dealer may have sufficient for his ordinary re-I re-I qulrements up to (10 days, while a pr-i pr-i sou Uvlug more than ten miles from such a dealer may have sufficient for his ordinary requirements for a period up to I'M days. It Is said to taste very much like genuine gen-uine tea, but even a half dozen cups will not produce the stimulation caused by a single cup of real tea. There are any number of surrogates for marmalades. Most of them are prepared from garden vegetables Instead In-stead of from fruits, with a minimum amount of sugar. ' Substitute soup is offered for sale, which Is said to have been prepared from the oil in berries and from pumice pum-ice stone. It lacks, however, the one. main characteristic of soap, that of working up Into u rich, creamy lather ; otherwise It Is very good. Substitutes are also to be had for laundry blueing. Substitute "bicycle tires are sometimes some-times made of two concentric Iron rings with small springs between them. They are very serviceable on asphalt pavements, but are not exactly as noiseless nor as easy riding as genuine gen-uine rubber tires. A large number of articles offered Tor Mile had been prepared largely or entirely from paper coarse working j clothes for men and women, blouses, aprons, and other fabrics. There were paper belts which seemed capable of driving heavy loads. Many artificial and substitute leathers leath-ers were noticed. Brass and copper articles were not seen, and attempts were made to place substitutes on the market In the form of plated wares. A committee on public Information representative In London says: London has never heard of a baseball base-ball season before, but will get Its rhancs this year when the American baseball league gets Its schedule of games well underway. There are eight American and Canadian teams recruited re-cruited from various organizations stationed sta-tioned In Iondon, with games scheduled sched-uled for each Saturday during the summer. The thousands of American soldiers who may pnss through London, or be Invalided or stationed here, are In a fair way to be made to feel that England Eng-land Is the next best place to home end Mint English hearts are kept warm for them. "Make England the Sammy's 'bllghty," Is the way the English press puts It In urging readers to entertain en-tertain the American troops. "Blighty Is the war word for everything the soldier wants In Intervals of his lighting light-ing work; the place where friends, recreation, and homelike comfort await him. . The Weekly IHnpateh recently called for suggestions for a public entertainment entertain-ment to be offered American soldiers and an Instant response made thou-sands thou-sands of dollars available for amusements amuse-ments and entertainments. The Idea that found greatest favor, however, was to throw open the homes of the nation to the Smiindes. An officer coimmiudliig an American squadron operating with the Itrltlsh fleet has reMrted on a late Inspection nnd speaks In high terms of the present pres-ent state of efficiency In which he finds both ships and men. "Vessels show the most gratifying Improvement In battery and fire control," con-trol," he snld. "Our ships are smart, spick nnd span, nnd have been recipients recipi-ents of ninny high compliments from lirltish flag officers." Prior to the war the trensury prepared pre-pared approximately 15O,0)0 checks annually for the payment of Interest on reentered bonds of all loans, the hsue of these irj,fS checks being dlsirilmti'il through the year. In the j May payment of Interest on registered I Imiidi of the second Liberty loan more Hum twiee that number of checks ! ucie prepared. I More than L'.ihmi.iXH) members of i .Xinerlciin f.'liliiiir forces are now In-j In-j suied by the United States government. Any wholesale or any retail dealer j . licensed by the Canadian food board may not hold flour made wholly or In part Iroiu wheat In excess of a quantl-i. quantl-i. ty sufficient for his ordinary trode requirements re-quirements for a period exceeding 00 days. The regulation regarding sugar parallels par-allels this save In the last clause. Manufacturers, wholesalers, or retail-vr retail-vr may not have more sugar thun Is required for a period exceeding 43 days. The Swiss federal government hai by decree fixed the maximum price ttt which farmers may sell cattle for slu tighter as well as the prices at which various qualities of butchers' meat may be retailed. Farmers limy 'demand no more than 23 cents per pound for flrxt-dass fat beef cattle. The price applies to cattle sold on thu fari i. If nold In a city or other distant dis-tant market cost of trun.-portution ijniv be added. Willi t he exception of sirloin and fillet cuts, letullers may nsk no more than 10 eeiiU per pound fur beef. |
