Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-24
WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOKES ITS ORDER
AGAINST COCA-.COLA
Asserts Original Order Was
Based on Misinformation--
Army Posts Advised

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-The follow
ing order from the war department re-
vokes the former order prohibiting the
sale of Coca-Cola In army post sx-
changes. BY the same order the govern
ment states that no cocaine or alcohol
was found in the analysis by the agrf-
cultural department.
The report further states that the orig
inal order prohibiting the sale of Coca
Cola in post exchanges was based on in
formation which later, by a careful
analysis, was proved to be incorrect.
The following order, reproduced in full,
has been sent to every department Of the
United States army from washington
to the Philippines. and Immediately per.
mits the sale of Coca-Cola at post ex-
changes:
October 20, 1907.
The Commanding General, Philippine
Division, Manila, Philippine Islands:,
Sir-The manufacturers of the beverage
known and sold as Coca-Cola having APP
realed to the secretary of war to fe-
woke the instructions issued by the war
department on June II, 1907 directing
that the sale of Coca-Cola by army post
exchanges be discontinued, and the pa
pers in the case, including report Dy
the chief of the bureau of chemistry, ag
ricultural department, as to the compost
ton of the beverage, having been re-
ferred to the judge advocate general Of
the army, that officer has reported as fol-
lows:
October 28. 1907.
Fourth Endorsement, War Department.
Office of the Judge Advocate General.
Washington, d. c.
Respectfully returned to the adjutant
general.
The only legal prohibition in respect
to the sale Of beverages at military posts,
or at places within the exclusive jurts-
diction of the United States, is that en-
bodied in the act of February 2, 1901,
which provides that:
1.-THE sale of or dealing in beer, wine
or any intoxicating liquors or canteen or
army transport, or upon any premises
used for military purposes by the United
States, is hereby prohibited
Sec 3S, Act of February 2, 1901 (31 Stat,
L., 758).
known as Coca-Cola was prohibited upon
the representation that it contained 2
per cent of alcohol; incidentally the
presence of other harmful ingredients,
in small quantities, was reported, but
the prohibition was largely based upon
the presence of alcohol in the quantity
above noted.
and examined by the chief of the
Department, from whose report it ap-
pears that the beverage contains no APP
preciable quantity of alcohol. 1t also
contains no cocaine. The result of the
investigation has therefore been to show
that the original order of exclusion was
based upon data in respect to the pres
ence of alcohol which, upon thorough
chemical examination, are found not
to exist to the extent supposed when
the matter was first submitted to the
secretary OF war for administrative ac-
ton. AS the legal reason for the estab-
lIshment and enforcement of the prohibi-
tion no longer exists, it is recommended
that the order of exclusion be revoked
GEORGE B. DAVIS,
Judge Advocate General
The acting secretary of war concur
ling in the views of the judge advocate
general of the army, directs that any
instructions heretofore given prohibiting
the sale of Coca-Cola at army post ex-
changes be revoked. Very respectfully.
F. c. AINSWORTH,
(Seal) The Adjutant General.