New-York tribune., 1910-12-18
Rum TO Decide Next
War, Says Kaiser

9 great severity as to put stop virtually
to all drinking among the officers. The
latter do not have to be completely in
toxicated and bereft of their senses in
.order to incur court-martial. The least
departure from perfect sobriety is now
| adays made the subject of disciplinary
action, and the consequence is that Off
GERS prefer to be known as total alb
stainers rather than that any momen-
tary excitement-any departure in one
word-from their normal manner and
frame of mind. should be unjustly as
cribed to stimulants
Then, too, the modern warsfip Is the
most complicated piece of machinery in
existence. Everything practically is
done by electricity. The coming tower,
or the cabin from which the commander
directs every movement Of his ship, has
! its walls literally covered with electric
puShbuttons and small levers. There
are hundreds of them 1t is necessary
that every faculty of the human brain
should be keenly alert and Sharpened to
the finest point in order to know just
what button or lever to touch in a mo-
mistake might result in an appalling
catastrophe, with the destruction of the
lives of all the crew of six hundred or
eight hundred men. The responsibility
is overwhelming. 1t is not only ones
own career and ones own life that are
in the balance, but also the fate of the
skip, representing cost perhaps of S1o,-
oOUtD and the existence Of all ones
fellow creatures on board. Men who
have to shoulder this burden do not dare
to drink. The risk is too appalling.
1t is noteworthy that while the Kaiser
recommends total abstinence in his navy
he is content with recommending merely
temperance in the army, and in the last
two years he has never neglected any
opportunity of impressng its advan-
tages, not only among his soldiers and
their officers, but also among students |
and young men who, terminating their |
scholastic education, are about to JOIN |
the colors in order to fulfil that military |
service which is obligatory upon every |
German citizen.
Most of the great soldiers of the pres
ent day are imbued With the advantages
of temperance among the troops. Ac-
cording to Field Marshal Lord Kitch-
ener, not only are a soldiers staying
powers augmented by abstinence from
stimulants but likewise his shooting is
improved.
In these days, especially with the new
quick firing rifles and guns, there is a
tendency on the part of the troops to fire
wildly and to squander their ammuni-
ton at the very outset of the engage
ment. The one object of the officers is
to keep their men calm, cool, collected
and free from excitement, so that they
may reserve their fire for the proper
moment, and then shoot to hit. This be-
comes a matter of difficulty when the
soldiers have been wrought up by even
ever so small d draft of what is known
as Dutch courage" The spectacle Of l
bloodshed and the noise and din of bat |
tie are quite sufficient in themselves not |
only to produce excitement but also to |
arouse all the latent disposition TO say
agcry that turks in every human breast. |
This being the case, is it wise or polite |
to infiame the passions still further and |
to lessen the restrictions Of civilization
by the use Of stimulants? If there is
one class of people more than any other |
among whom temperance ought to be en-
coura ged it is the troops, and on account
of the surprising value of abstinence in
the matter of increasing their efficiency
it should be vigorously enforced in times
of war.
Since the monarchs of the Old World
are by virtue of their sovereignty COM
manders IL chief of their armies and of
their naVies, it is only natural that they
should set an example to their soldiers
and to their sailors in the matter OF
temperance. and George Y. whose prin-
cipal tippIe is barley water, presents a
striking contrast to George N, whose
customary liquid refreshment was cham
pagne heavily fortified with old cogn2c.
And. whereas, the Kaiser breaches total
a abstinence in his navy and temperance
not only in his army, but also among
his people, Frederick the Great, one OF
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