The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-09
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF MTEMPERANcE.

Appalling Conditions, Due to Drink,
That the Russian Soldiers Had to Con.
tend with-victory For Abstinence.
A remarkable article recently ap-.
pe9red in the Chicago Tribune, which
we commend to all advocates Of the re-
establishment of the army beer saloon.
The article says:
Russia in its recent war with Japan
labored under many disadvantages.
But it is doubtful whether there has
been any that has handicapped her
more than the drunkenness Of her
soldiers, Of her sailors, and more par
ticularly Of her officers. Every foreign
newspaper correspondent on the Rus
sian side, even those whose sympathies
were wholly Muscovite, such as Col
onel Won Gaedke, formerly Of the Ger
man General Staff and probably the
foremost military writer of the present
day, has drawn we'll nigh incredible
pictures of the prevalence of this par
ticular vice among the foes Of Japan
and of appalling conditions arising
therefrom.
1t is known that the foreign officers
delegated to watch the operations in
Manchuria have made still more damn
ing reports on the subject to their re-
spective governments, creating 80 deep
an impression that the English Secre-
tary of State for War in the course Of
an address the other day declared that
the victories of Japan were largely due
to the sobriety of her officers and men,
while the Kaiser in a remarkable
c~ooo1 b h;e ASnnrc NJ Sf1,o chr1rO Qn1
of which only garbled reports have
reached the public, gave expression to
much the same views.
In giving honor to whom honor is
due, he says:
While Japan in her conflict with Rus
STA has Illustrated and emphasized the
value of sobriety as a military and
naval asset in war, it is to the United
States and Great Britain that belongs
the credit of having been the first to
abandon those old time ideas that
drink improved the fighting qualities
of men. In the Russian navy, as in
those Of nearly all the maritime pow
ers of continental Europe, the custom
still survives of doubling the ration OF
wine or spirits served out to crews be-
fore going into action. Uncle Sam has
long since abolished the daily allow
ance Of grog to the men Of his navy,
and strictly prohibits the use Of stimu-
lants on board his ships when they
are at sea, while the British Admiralty
as far back as 1897 issued the most
stringent orders to the commanders of
all British men-of-war in commission
that not q drop of alcoholic liquor. no
matter whether spirit, wine or. malt,
should be allowed when there was
any fighting to be done. In order to
satisfy the thirst engendered by the
heat, exertion, and smoke ~inseparable
from a naval combat, supplies of tat
meal water for drinking are arranged
all over the ship. Japan not long after
ward adopted the same rules with re-
gard to drink in her navy.
In the c;.se of hostile operations on
land the same considerations prevail
and must weigh in the balance of VIC
tory or defeat. The soldiers shooting
as we'll as his staying powers are i'm
proved by temperance, and have dem
onstrated the beneficial effects of total
abstinence upon the physical endur-
ance of the troops.
AS far back as ten years ago, Field
Marshal Lord Wolseley. at that time
British Commander-in-C Chief, inaugu-
rated a series of Investigations into the
matter, especially in connection with
the annual maneuvres.
The result of these experiences led
Lord Kitchener to obtain from the
British War Department permission to
bar the use of all stimulants in that
last campaign Of his in the Soudan.
which eliminated in his victory OF
Omdurman and in the destruction OF
the power of the Madhi. Not on the
ground of principle but solely for the
sake of maintaining the powers of en-
durance of the troops engaged in that
expedition, he would not permit a sim
gle drop of stimulant in camp save for
hospital use. Spirits, wines and malt
liquors were rigidly eliminated from
the officers mess, as well as from the
regimental canteen; and from generals
in command down to the drummer
boys and the camp followers, liquid re-
freshments were restricted to tea and
oatmeal water. Thanks to total absti-
hence his men were able to make
forced marches of the most eXtraor-
binary character across the burning
desert and under a blazing sun, the
heat of whose rays can only be ap.
preciated by those who have lived un-
der the equator.
Notwithstanding the magnificent re-
suits of Lord Kitchener's experiment
in the Soudan, he found it impossible
to secure the consent of the British
Government to a similar course in the
war in South Africa. Japan, however,
quick to appreciate its benefits. adopted
in her late war practically the same
rule that prevailed in Lord Kitchen
er's campaign in the Soudan, and so
secured for herself final victory, as
we'll rs immunity from the diseases
which in former wars have carried of
more men than the actual conflict in
battle.
Such principles enforced in war tend
TO continued practice along the same
lines in times of peace, and the whole
world is indebted to Japan for this
strong endorsement Of the benefits OF
abstinence.
Masons Exclude Liquor.
The use of intoxicating liquor may
be barred from the social functions un-
dor +bo o,cnines nf tho PENNSYLVANIA