Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-25
VETERANS FAVOR CANTEEN
RECENT ACTION BY GENERAL
sCHOFIELD GARRISON.
Drunkenness Among the Soldiers in
the Philippines Shown by
COurt-Martial Records.

Opposition to the operation of the anti
canteen. law continues to accumulate at the
War Department. The latest communica-
ton on that subject is from Commander
John G. Maynard of General ]. NJ. Schofeld
Garrison, No. /, Regular Army and Navy
Union of the United States of America, in1
closing a copy of resolutions adopted at a
recent meeting of that garrison in this city,
expressing hearty concurrence in the action
of the Association of Military Surgeons in
annual session at ST. Paul. Mimi, May 81,
1901, recognizing that the abolition of the
army cantean has resulted, and must in
evitably result, in an increase of intemper-
ance INSTRUMENTATION. discomfort, desertion
and disease" deploring the action Of Con-
gress in abolishing the canteen, and recon-
mending it's re-establishment at the earliest
possible date in the interests of discipline
and morality.
the General ]. M. Schofield Garrison took
occasion to earnestly recommend the re-
establishment of the canteen as a part
of the post exchange. on the ground that
lis Is for the best interests of both Off
GERS and men and to the service generally.
The force of this action on the part Of
the Schofield garrison lies in the fact that
the organization is composed exclusively
of men who have served in the regular
army, navy or marine corps Of the United
States for periods ranging from a few
been honorably discharged from, are
still in such service. and who Commander
Maynard says, have "a personal knowledge
of the Beneficial effects of the army can
teen and sincere appreciation of the eff
forts made to prevent its abolition.
Drunkenness Among the Troops.
Additional evidence Of the i'll effects Of
the abolition of the army canteen is con-
tanned In the court-martial records Of the
Division of the Philippines. just received
at the War Department It appears from
prived of their beer and other mild drinks
at the army canteen, made practice of
leaving the post and indulging excessively
in vino" villainouS native decoction,
which intoxicated the men and seriously
injured their health. Recognizing the in
furious effects of an indulgence in this ma
tive drink, General Macarthur instructed
his officers to do all they could do dis
courage its use by the American army.
AS a step in that direction, the severest
penalties permitted were inflicted on SOL
diers who violated the regulations as a
consequence of over-indulgence in vino. The
reason for this was that the effects Of that
drink were much more serious than usually
resulted from the of whisky or other
forms of alcohol with which the American
soldier is more familiar Vino made the
soldiers crazy, and caused them to commit
acts of violence which otherwise they
the 4th Infantry Regiment was recently
convicted by court-martial at Malabon of
general misconduct while intoxicated from
drinking vino and sentenced to be diShon-
orably discharged and imprisoned at hard
labor for five years. This sentence was
mitigated. however by Gen. Macarthur to
Imprisonment for two years and six
months. Similarly severe punishment was
imposed in other cases where the offenses
resulted from the excessive use of liquor
outside of the military posts.