Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-28
HOW ARMY OFFICERS VIEW IT
Unanimous and Positive in COnvts.
Zion That Alcoholic Drinks Are
y Detrnaent to the Soldier.

The great British victory at Omdur-
man was gained by an army Of total
sbstainers from intoxicating drinks,
after phenomenal marches through the
desert under burning sun and in a
climate famed for it's power TO kill or
prematurely age the unacs2fnated.
Many Of the men and semse of the Of
hcers were not teetotalers from choice,
and some of them made wry faces when
the British war department decided, at
the express desire of the commander
In chief at home, Field Marshal Lord
Wolseley, and Gen. Kitchener in the
field, that not a single drop of alco-
holic stimulant should be allowed in
camp except for hospital use.
For some time previous to this, ex-
perimental evidence had been gathered
upon this military temperance ques-
ton. Three regiments were selected
from each of several brigades for tests
at different times, partly during ma
neuvers. In one every man was for
hidden to drink drop while the test
lasted; in the second, malt liquor could
be purchased; in the third sailors
ration of whisky was given to each man.
The experiment was repeated IN several
instances where forced marches or
other hard work was required. The
whisky drinkers showed more dash at
first, but generally in about four days
showed signs of lassitude and abnormal
fatigue. Those given malt liquor dis
played less dash at first, but their en-
durance lasted somewhat longer. The
abstainers, however, are said to have
increased daily In alertness and stay
ing powers.
The French victories In the western
Soudan and in Madagascar were also
gained by an army of total abstainers.
Gen. Gallieni, their commander, sub
stituted tea, coffee, lemonade and other
temperance drinks for intoxicants, and,
he writes, the efficiency of the men was
increased 10 per cent, their morals and
health being greatly improved.
Our own leading generals are also OPP
posed to the regimental liquor "can-
teen" The adjutant general of the
army, Henry c. Corbin, to whom all
the other generals have to report, has
said: "a cause of restlessness in the
army is traced to the excuses of the
is not productive of good, and should
be done away with without further ex-
pertinent" Surgeon General Stern
berg, who. of course. is at the head
of the whole medical service in the
army, and who ought to know what
he is writing about, says: There is
no need whatever for Intoxicating
drinks at these canteens, and it will
be a good thing for the army If they
are abolished" Gen. Miles went as
far as ne was permitted by the then
existing army regulations, and in the
general order, No. g, July ., 1898, be
said: ''The history of other armies has
demonstrated that in a hot climate
abstinence from the use of intoxicating
drinks is essential to continued health
and efficiency" And he urged the com
handing officers and men to give Their
full physical and intellectual force Il
their public duties ''uncontaminated by
any indulgence that shall dim, stultify
weaken or impair their faculties anC
| strength In any particular"
Maj. Gen. Shafter wrote from Santi
| ago: 81 have always been strongly op
posed to the canteen system. or the
sale of intoxicating drinks of any kind
regard it demoralizing to the men
besides impairing seriously their eff
fciency." Maj. Gen. Wheeler: az an
utterly opposed to soldiers being sole
intoxicating liquors, and / believe tina
every effort should be made to remov'
the temptation of such dissipation from
them" Brig. Gen. Guy V. Henry, Porte
Rico: 81 am opposed to the sale o
liquors of any kind to enlisted men,"
With these high officers agree Gems
Boynton, Rochester, Howard, Wilcox
Stanley, Carlin and more than hun
dred colonies, majors, captains. sur
geons and chaplainS.-Rev. John Lig
gins, IL Christian Work