The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-06
DANIELS PROHIBITS
LIQUOR IN NAVY
New Regulation, Abolishing Gus
tom, Goes Into Effect
on July l.
EQUALITY IS ESTABLISHED
Order Based Largely on Recon-
mcndations Of Surgcon-Gcn-
eral BREASTED.
EQUALITY IS ESTABLISHED
Especial to The Times Dispatch


Washington. April 5,-Secietnry Dan
icls. OF tho navy. has prohibited tho use
OF alcoholic liquors 'on board any naval
Fessci. or within any navy yard or sta
ton. anywhere within the Jurisdiction
OF the Navy Department.
ne new regulation establishes equal
ity between officers and the enlisted
men. as the latter have not been al.
lowed to have a wine mess or alcoholic
beverages on board ship.
IL is expected. following the navy's
lead. that tho question Of abolishng
liquor In tho army viii DO revived
Army officers will not discuss the mat
ter In advance OF any action that may
or may not be taken b. Secretary OF
War Garrieon.
Tho navy order vas issued yesterday,
and goes into effect on July J.
FloRg!ns Was abolished In tho navy
In 1851. and the issuance OF grog 10
tho sailors ana their right TO have
liquors on board was abolished In 1851
The text OF Danielss order Is an fol-
lows:
The use or Introduction FOR drink
ing purposes OF alcoholic liquors on
board any naval vessel. or within any
ravy-yard or station is strictly pro-
hibited. and commanding officers viii
be held directly responsible for tho en-
iorccncnt Of this order"
Tho ordcr Is based largely on re-
concentrations Of Surgeon General W
e BREASTED, who cited many reasons
why the practice or the wine mess
should be abolished.
Tho surgeon gancral makes the poin,
that there should not he on ship board.
with reference to iutoXiicants. one rule
for officers and another and different
rule for the enlisted personnel"
llc notes recent case OF dismissal
OF an officer "who had never tasted
Intoxicating drinks until he did 80 in
the wine mess on his cruises"
Others, he states. who have been dia-
ciplincd for drinking 70 excess nave
made similar attachments
Tho surgeon general holds that tho
government has no right 80 hermit
th!s temptation, which too often de-
ftroys tho highest usefulness OF young
officers, and that the naval profess
sion i the one ia pa rticular which re-
Quires Il clear and steady hand
He states that the use OF alcoholic
stimulante was inherited BY the navy
NJ It's birth. and that up 10 this time
/; has been officially recognised
Several officers We're asked to-day
fot expressions OF opinions on the
i.guor order. some called IT a viola
ton ~ personal liberty. and others do
C!arcd II was not oC much importance.
II Is not likely that protests in Of
!oin! form VIII be made either 10 the
secretary or the President
There are seven messes on hoard n
big ship-the flag officers, tho cap
tain's. the ward room, Tho junior Of
hccrs. the warrant officers the petty
officers. and tho general mess.
The wine moss furnishes cigars,
teers and Light wines TO all tho Of
ncers who are members OF the mess. at
cost The officers who do not belong
10 the wine mess pay 10 per cent more
for liquors.
Conc forever in the navy nre the
days Of
sixteen men on a dead mans chest,
No-ho, yc-ho. and "A bottle Of rum"
Discussing the question Of enter
tainpent or international visitors and
other like courtcsies the surgeon
general said: 1T IS probable that
upon certain special occasions, inter
national courtesy might render il nd-
NIsahlc TO temporarily modif" such a
regulation. this readily could be done
by departmental order. At the same
time. efforts might be made TO obtain
an appropriation for the cntcTtainme VI
OF our foreign guests In a manner
which would avoid the possible ap-
pearancc Of criticizinu their own GUS
toms and rcgulations.'
Secretary Daniels, announcing his
order. said Il puts in effect tho same
,ulc with reference 10 intoXIcants in
Ihc navy which the laws of Congress
lave imposed in tho army. Ii was
pointed out. however, that while the
'N'o''Ht 49, ~ ''''H''7 '''' F'''c ~ ~
toXicating liquor on any military
reservation, there Is no ban on tho
operation of oiiicers' clubs, where
alcoholic beverages are served
Statement hy Dnnicls.
in n statement tonight, Secretary
Daniels said:
II am In hearty agreement with tho
views expressed by the surScon-Ecn-
cral. There should not be on ship
board with reference to intoXicants
one rule for officers and another. n DIFF
fcrent rule. for the enlisted personnel
The saddcst hour in my official life IS
when an officer enlisted man must
be punished Tor intoXication During
the past week i, has been my pain
full duty to approve a ourt-martial for
dismissal from the service OF an of.
Lccr for intoXication. He told mo that