The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-11-11
CANTEEN BETTER
THAN SPBAKEASY.
General Leonard wood Declares
That the Cause of Temperance
Has Not Been Promoted.

IL ltDOil uCdllhb WIN NhO
commonplaces of the enlisted mans
comfort.
The report was written by Gener-
al Wood as the commander of the
department of the east, but was
after he became chief Of staff and
therefore is taken as criticism by the
active head of the army.
Within the sphere of the enlisted
man, General Wood in this report
touches upon three points; the SOL
dier's canteen or post saloon; his
uniform-particula his shoes
and the desirability of establishing
general service corps of men en-
ployed to do all the non-military
work.
Would Re-establish Canteen.
The crisp and blunt recommenda-
ton OF General Wood that the army
canteen be re-established is one with
which most every army officer would
agree but not one probably which
all would incorporate in an official
report. General Wood bases this
suggestion upon the assertion that
the canteen is for the best interests
Of the army.
Several years ago the w. G. T.
U. and other temperance organiza-
tions succeeded in putting through
Congress an order abolishing the
post saloon where the soldier bought
light beer, tobacco and played pool
and cards. Since then the American
soldier has gone outside of his post
when he wished to buy liquor. As
consequence the gates of the
army posts are now fringed with
series of green swinging doors on
buildings from which sound the dis
cords of electric pianos and in which
the soldier is not limited to beer
but is induced to drink cheap brands
Of whisky.
The soldiers themselves are bit
terly opposed to these parasite sa-
looms outside of posts and in some
instances have wrecked them.
Charges OF robbery have been made
against the proprietors of some of
them. Many officers of the army
now believe that it is far better to
allow the soldier to drink beer in
side a post than to drink poor whis-
ky outside. General Wood openly
declares himself an advocate of the
post saloon.
Soldiers Shoes Considered.
Discussing the dress of the enlist
ed men, General Wood lays great
stress upon the need of more
careful inspection of the soldiers
shoes. He goes so far as to say
that the present proportion of ill
fitting shoes among the private
soldiers of the infantry branch OF
the army seriously handicaps their
efficiency in field service.
Reports of feet inspection show
very large proportion of ill-titting
Shoes" says Wood, with the re-
sulting condition of feet which
would quickly incapacitate these
soldiers for duty in case of field
service.
This is so common an occurrence
as to warrant the issuance of gener-
al instructions to apply throughout
the army to the effect that the fit.
ting of shoes shall be supervised by
an officer, and that there shall be al
least one monthly inspection of the
mems feet by the medical officers
with a view to correcting such con-
ditions of unsoundness as exist and
calling attention to those cases
where it is evident that the mems
shoes do not fit them. This is q
subject which demands serious and
| constant attention"
The suggestion is made in the re-
| port that third army reserve be
established composed of men who
| have been honorably discharged
| from the regular service or the mill
tia who could be paid nominal sal.
aries by the war department. They
would keep the department con
stantly advised of their addresses
| The only duty for these reserves
suggested by General Wood is thai
they attend yearly maneuver
Thus there would always be at the
call of the army a reserve body oi
men who in the past have received
military instructions, freshened VI
every year with field maneuvers.
Minor Offenses CondOned.
Severe condemnation is made oi
| the too frequent practice of hauling
soldier up for trial for some min
or offense.
1T indicates" says the report
IAN incapacity on the part of com
manding officers to understand the
| human side of command, and re.
suits only too often in breaking
down the self respect of the soldier
and rendering him careless of re
suits. General Wood says that he
favors the establishment of a sys
tenn of discipline for unruly sold
iers looking to their reform as wei
as their punishment. He objects
to the application of the term ICON
vict" to soldiers who are dishonor
ably discharged from the service be
cause of their having been convicted
of five previous offences which ar'
in many instances minor offences
This, he says, is apt to destroy II
large measure their future use
| fulness as citizens.
General Wood recommends fire.
quent travel for field officers in or
der that they may observe the man
euyers of well-trained bodies O
troops. He suggests that as man!
officers as possible be given an op
portunity of observing the work o
the European armies.
Wall tho Qraaf aIacfinn 20 nnu