Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-03
PURITY IN THE ARMY
OFFICERS URGED TO GIVE PRE-
CEPT AND EXAMPLE.
Order of the President Promulgated by
Gen. Corbin, Commanding the Divi-
sion of the Philippines.

General Corbin. commanding the army in
the Philippines, has issued the following
general order to the troops in that division
in the interests of temperance and NOR
atty.
1.-The following order of the Commander
in-Chief, the President of March IS, 1902,
is of such peculiar value to the troops, and
employees of this division that it is re-
published for their benefit and should be
read by every one, with profit alike to the
reader and to the service:
The attention of the officers and
listed men of the army, especially of those
serving in the tropics, and away from
home. is called to the following facts:
THE only really efficient way in which
to control the diseases due to immortality
is to diminish the vice which is the cause
of these diseases. Excessive indulgence in
strong drink is absolutely certain to ruin
any man, physically and morally; while dis
ease due to Righteousness produces effects
which are quite as destructive and even
more loathSOme.
Duty of Officers.
g 1T is the duty of regimental and par
ticularly of company officers to try by pre-
cept and example to point out to the men
under their control. and particularly to the
younger men. the inevitable misery and dis
aster which follow upon intemperance and
upon moral uncleanliness and vicious liv-
ing. The officers should, of course,
member always that the effect of what they
say must largely depend upon the lives
they themselves lead. 1t is in the highest
degree necessary that such officer should
be an example to his men in the way of
temperate and Clearly living. He should
point out, using the utmost tact, discretion
and good sense, to the men that disease IS
almost sure to follow licentious living.
1yx-NN tv,nr. hnir
own efficiency soldiers and sometimes
utterly destroy it, and they throw upon
their self-respecting comrades the burden
OF performing all of the duties which they
have untitled themselves to perform.
To Teach Self-Control.
1.-The officers should strive to teach their
men self-control, to show them that NOR
ality and efficiency in the life of a soldier.
as in civil life, go hand in hand. Idleness
during the hours when there are no mill
tary duties to perform and the lack of
healthful amusement and occupation are
provocative of debauchery. Officers should
do all in their power to encourage health
exercises and physical recreation as well as
to supply opportunities for clearly social
and interesting mental occupa tons among
the men.
THE young men especially many of whom
have been but recently taken away from
tLe IGSlldIHlS tllu influences Oh nome,
should be encouraged to look to their supe-
riors, both commissioned and non-commis-
stoned officers, and especially to the COM
pany, troop or battery officers for leader
ship and support amid the temptations
around them. Every effort should be made
to promote throughout the army clearly
and moral tone in word no less than In
deed. AS a nation We feel a keen pride in
the valor, discipline and SteadfaSt endur-
ance of our soldiers and hand in hand with
these qualities must go the virtues of self
restraint, self-respect and self-control.'
To Be Read to Every Command.
1.-THE division commander directs that this
order be read to each troop, battery and
company at the first retreat roll call after
it's receipt and that several copies be post
ed In each barrack room, in the ward rooms
OF the hospitals throughout the division,
and in all quarters of men on all trans
ports. Copies sufficient to provide one for
each officer and enlisted man will be hand
ed the incoming regiments on their arrival
Manila, and on the arrival of recruits
here copy will be furnished to each en-
listed man of the detachment The Pres-
dents order will be a subject on which a
medical officer at each post to be desig-
mated by the commanding officer, will ad-
dress the officers and enlisted men at each
garrison of the command. 1t will also be
treated in a special address prepared by
each chaplain serving with troops in the
division. Commanding officers will make
suitable arrangements for these addresses
and for attendance at them by their COM
mands.
I'm furtherance of the suggestions con-
tanned in the order of the President medi-
cal officers will do all they can to persuade
men s>--.ering from the lack of self-controI
to at once give them their confidence and
will promptly render them careful and
thorough treatment.
This order will be freely distributed to
the civil employees of the several STAFF de-
partments, and wherever in any instance
individuals may have rendered themselves
unfit for service by reason of immoral nra G.
tees, they will be subjects for charges nm
der the civil service rules with view to
eliminating them from the service