The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-10
Seductive Philippine Beverages.

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 4 seductive bev.
erage which they procured in native shops,
and which produced such physical and
mental dem oralization as to give rise to
suspicion that tho army Of occupation was
being Systematically drugged or poisoned
to render them helpless to resist an insur-
gent attack. This native drink was gen.
orally known as vino. It was exceedingly
palatable and Inexpensive, but a single
drink of 1t untitled soldier for active duty
for the succeeding twenty-four hours,
while frequent potations sent the soldier to
the hospital for long period Of illness.
When the source OF the trouble was dis
covered General Otis was disposed to pro.
hibit the traffic IN vino altogether, and to
rhat end referred the matter to General
Hughes, Provost Marshal-General OF the
city, with request for suggestions look
ing to practicable course OF action. Gen.
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 ore in the field, prac-
ticallY all the shops where 1t had been sold
nre closed. General Hughess endorsement
On the case was as follows:
HEADQUARTERS
PROVOST MARSHAL-GEEERAL.
MANILA, January 1S.
Respectfully returned to the Adiutant.
rieneral. Department of the Pacific and
Eighth Army Corps.
have avoided all discussion OF this sub.
ect until have sufficiently informed my.
self OF the actual facts and while nay In
l. N,,h ArI ~ "A
as I should like to have it, still feel that
hazard nothing In what is stated below.
There are quite number OF articles on
sale at the wine shops in this city that are
about the same thing. They arc wlitish
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.
,ial alcohol is manufactured here e1ten-
5ively from the refuse OF sugar houses. It
is very pure and strong, and can be sold at
price that is far below that at which any
other Intoxicating drink can be produced.
The wine vepders take this alcohol OF com.
merce and dilute 1t, perhaps add o cheap
davoring, may be an innocent colorlng ele-
ment, anu sell thunder any name they see
1T to bestow upon it. Any one familiar
with the old bottle trade can tell about 1t
oy giving the various prices OF labelled and
not labelled bottles. A Scotch whisky
bottle with perfect label Is very differ
ent article OF trade from ono OF the same
kind without label.
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 it on sale as beverage. This material
s,apt to produce O very delirious. or con-
fused condition. Wherever such shops are
found the police are to withdraw the
licenses from the places. II commanders will
be careful to report the places whore men
have obtained the drink which produces
The effect mentioned it shall be tho effort
Of this office to take su,h measures as will
prevent recurrence.