Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-02

bis country many effective measures
have been taken for the suppression
OF alcoholism. In the present war with
England, the use OF alcohol has been
prohibited by the Beers, and the sig
niicance OF this fact has been dis
, cussed by one of the nonabstiDent par
takers OF the campaign, FIR. van Straat-
en-, In an article sent from Lorenzo
Marques TO the Deuteche Warte. He
says that people In Europe are gem
orally OF the opinion that before a
battle the soldier must have his bran
dy. that IL gives him courage, warns
his stomach, increases his power OF re-
sdstance and endurance OF fatigue, and
makes him oblivious OF danger and
hunger In the Boer army the drink
ing Of brandy was forbidden, and, the
! introduction OF spurious liquors into
the camp was prevented as much as
possible. Prom these regulations
he says, "we\ have obtained the best
results In all weather our people
have sat In the saddle and travelled
hundreds Of miles with scarcely the
loss OF single man. There were no
uniforms manufactured according Ia
the teaching of hygiene. Everyone
went clothed Just as he would about
his work in time Of peace, Many had
not even one warm cloak, and yet we
endured the fiery heat Of the African
day and the following piercing cold
OF the night without injury to health.
We were often for months under no
roof, and In no bee, but no stomach
warmer was ever handed out
II have during the campaign asked
various physicians their opinion on
this point They are almost univer-
sally Of the opinion that the wonder
fui power Of endurance OF tho Boer
army has IN great part been duo TO
their total abstinence from spurious
drinks Men say that brandy makes
prtvstion more endurable. No word
of that 10 true II Is also a Yable that
when one takes spirituovs drinks Il
relieves fatigue. All that is true Is
that the drinker does not measure the
extent OF the danger. and on that 40
count disdainS It, even II he IL cow
ardly by nature In earlier times when
the method OF fighting was TO run down
the antagonist by n Wild dash, alcohol
probably had tie effect But modern
scientific warfare has other features
to reckon with. The Intoxicated mad
man who might rush over the field In
vehement charges would be shot coli
lectively and Individually under the
quick arc OF The repeating guns But
now tranquility. cold-blooded delsber-
alton, iron endurance, q steady hand.
clear eye, quick decision, are the
quaNfoa tions which the warrior OF the
present dey must possess in order 10
make the rife In his hand his formida-
BILE weapon. To remain hour after hour
undercovsr, and coolly, with the sharp
shooters eye, wait the cautious APP
prosch OF the enemy. or. In attack, 10
scan with falcons eve every stone, ev
cry rise OF ground, every molshiil in
order, IL possible, to come upon The
enemy unperceived-thati Is business
which requires actual courage, but not
that drunken tumbEng into danger
with which one whose brain k elouded
by the use Of alcohol enters into n
battle. The thing is not TO under
estimate danger, but TO recognise &,
by foresight to diminish II, and, IL tibet
Is not possible, TO meet 81 eoolly.
How far the hygienic experience
which we have gained by che prohIbi-
ton OF spirituous drinks In this war
will prove correct for non-Afrioan oon-
ditions IN difficult 20 decide at THE
point. Personally think that gen
eral conclusions may very certainly be
drawn from the facts here given, and
will only add that the auxiliary Euro
pean troops which are accustomed as
home TO the use Of spirituous drinks
have done very well with tea and coffee.
Their condition OF health was also en-
tireiy satisfactory, although many In
this war became accustomed for The
first time to the African climate. and
most OF them knew only By heresay
OF the fatiguing hunters life Of the
suhtropical campaign
Conversely, 1t very frequently hap
pens where troops and officers defy all |
measures OF prudence and break into
stores of brandy or wine that great
injury foliows"-Beriin Educational |
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