The Penn's Grove record., 1899-05-05

Among the serious problems confronting
General Otis at Manila none has caused
greater agitation than the alarming effects
produced upon American soldiers, particu.
larly the enlisted men, by a seductive bev'
erage which they procured in native shops,
and which produced such physical and
mental Generalization as to give rise to a
suspicion that the army of occupation was
being systematically drugged or poisoned
to render them helpless to resist an insur-
gent attack. This native drink was gem
orally known as vino. 1t was exceedingly
palatable and Inexpensive, but a single
drink of 1t untitled a soldier for active,duty
for the succeeding twenty-four hours,
while frequent rotations sent the soldier to
the hospital for Il long period of illness.
When the source of the trouble was dis
GOV cred General Otis was disposed to pro-
hibit the traffic In vino altogether, and to
that end referred the matter to General
Hughes, Provost Marshal-General of the
city, with a request for suggestions look
ing to a practicable course of action. Cen
eral Hughes investigated the trouble, and
his recommendations have been followed.
As long as Manila was crowded with
troops the vino industry, unrestricted. was
exceedingly lucrative, but now that most
of the Americans are in the field, prac-
ticaliy all the shops where 1t had been sold
are closed. General Hughes'sindorsement
oil the case was as follows:
HEADQUARTERS
PRovosT MISUNDERSTANDING,
MANILA, January Is.
Respectfully returned to the Adjutant.
General, Department of the Pacific and
Eighth Army Corps.
| have avoided all discussion of this SUBJ
ieet until l have sufficiently informed my
self of the actual facts, and while my in
formation Is not yet as full and complete
rs | should like to have it, still | feel that
4 l-.- - H. l. .l-H l. aAa a1n
There are quite n number OF articles on
sale at the wine shops in this city that are
about the same thing. They are a whitish
liquor, and usually favored; and some.
times tinted by some innocent elements.
They are called numerous names-anisado,
vino, beno, Scotch whisky, etc. The base
of all OF them is simply alcohol. CONNER
cial alcohol is manufactured here extern
sively from the refuse of sugar houses. 1t
is very pure and strong, and can be sold at
u price that is far below that at which any
other intoxicating drink can be produced.
The win vendors take this alcohol of COM
merce and dilute it, perhaps d a cheap
~fiavoring, may be an innocent coloring ele-
ment, and sell 1t under any name they see
fit to bestow upon it. Any one familiar
with the old bottle trade can tell about 1t
by giving the various prices of labelled and
not labelled bottles. A Scotch whisky
bottle with a perfect label Is a very differ
ent article OF trade from one of the same
kind without a laDel.
The police are instructed to endeavor to
Suppress the sale of these strong alcoholic
drinks to our soldiers, and persons found
selling them to American soldiers have
their permits revoked. There are occa-
sionally shops that get fruit alcohol and
put 1t on sale as a beverage. This material
ts.apt to produce a very delirious' or con-
fused condition. Wherever such shops are
found tla nniipA are 10 Withdraw the
licenses from the places. If commanders will
be careful to report the places where men
have obtained the drink which produces
the effect mentioned 1t shall be the effort
OF this Office to take su:h measures as will
prevent q recurrence.