New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-04-26
The Army Canteen - before and
after.

, By Louis Duches, Ex-Cavalryman, y. =. Army.
The canteen was the general gather
:, ing place OF the post. Cards, checkers
and dominoes we're generally supplied.
During the afternoons and evenings
the men of duty gathered 10 these
canteens, played games, chatted and
met their friends. In this way the dull
routine OF military life was made less
burdensome. Those who cared to
read could look thy ough the magazines
which we're furnished also. Those
who wished to spend an hour or so in
the gymnasium, which was located in
the same building were privileged to
do that. Often there was piano in
the same building, and, with the as.
sistance Of musical talent, of which
there is considerable among the re-
gulars, harmless fun was furnished
for an entire gathering. The glass or
so of beer which the soldiers drank
rarely intoxicated any of them. TWAS
more as a social club, as q medium
for social intercourse rather than q
"saloon" that the regulars valued
the canteen. -
A commissioned officer was placed
in charge of every canteen. Under
him was y non-commissioned officer
"a sergeant or a corpora:), whohad
immediate charge and attended to the
clerical work of the institution. The
profits made from the canteen wasdivi-
ded among the various troops and CON-
panies, and used to swell the company
funds. Every month q statement was
made to the commanding officer OF
each 'outfit" Many fancy Sunday
dinner was furnished the soldiers as
a result OF these monthly dividends,
which were used to purchase foods
not issued by the Quartermaster's
Department in the regular ratiohs.
Every week canteen checks we're issued
by the stop" sergeant. These checks
could be redeemd at the canteen for
cardboard or brass ''chips" designat-
ing purchases from one to fifty cents.
To-day the canteen is no more. The
enlisted man no longer has his social
club. Congress, by giving in to the
whim of temperance organizations
unacquainted with inside conditions
in the Army, practically compelled the
soldiers who drank, and many who
didn't, to run to saloons and dives
outside the posts. At the same time
it abolished the enlisted mems social
club. Now, instead; of drinking Deer
which underwent close inspection
when the canteen existed, the soldiers
drink ''rotgut" and "varnish.
When the canteen existed a large
percentage of the regulars seldom left
the Army posts. They found COM
partnership and social intercourse u
mong their comrades in the canteen.
To-day most of the soldiers spend
their spare time in and around the
DIVES and dens in the vicinity OF the
Army posts and beyond military in
spectors. AS rule, the soldiers who
we're subject to excessive drinking
could be taking care of when the can
teen existed. The officers in charge
had them spotted and watch that they
did not drink too much, which was
seldom when the drinking was con-
fined to beer. Then the canteen was
located few yards from the barracks
and the intoxicated ones could be sent
to their bunks-or placed in the guard
house until they sobered up.
III several posts the sale of drugs to
"dope fiends" has become profitable
business for peddlers. Of course,
this is against Army regulations, but
like many another rule with reference
to the health and wellbeing OF the
soldiers 1t is violated. Many soldiers
have given up whisky, beer, etc., for
the stronger poisons. 1t is needless
to say that those who reach this con-
dition cannot remain very long in the
Army. They either desert or are
given term in the guardhouse, after
which they are dishonorably dis
charged from the Army. In the last
report of the Judge Advocate General
there is no mention of the number OF
dishorable discharges, outside the
assertions. If this were known the
facts would be more startling even
than the number of desertions, be cause
since the heavy penalties have been
placed on desertion, many OF those
who want to get out of the Army be-
for their three years are up break the
rules 10 order to get five or more
"summary" court martials, and then
they are tried by "general' court
martial and discharged from the SER
vice.
When 80 per cent OF the Army Of
ficers want the canteen restored to the
enlisted men it is about time that Con-
gress recognizes its mistake. Those
in a position to know have learned