The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-04-11

| memDer thereOf. suitable lOcKeE
room for wine mess stores shall be
provided when fitting ship for sea-"
While admitting that the old regu-
lation conforms to the letter of the
law, Surgeon General BREASTED in his
letter to Secretary Daniels declared
at may be an open question as to
how far it fulfills those laws in
spirit" He explained that the use of
alcoholic stimulants twas inherent |
with many outworn customs at the
very birth of the American navy"
And reviewing legislation on the sub
ject he observed: ut must be clear
that congress has plainly set the
stamp of disapproval on the use OF
intoxicants by persons in the naval
and military services"
"As matters stand today" wrote the
surgeon-general, IAN enlisted man is
very properly subjected to severe dis
ciplinary measures If wine or beer be
found in his possession on board, yet
the same man is constantly aware Of
; the free use of alcoholic liquors on
board ship, which is officially permit
ted to officers and the too frequent
derelictions which occur among them
in consequence The prohibition Of
: alcohol to the men has rendered alco-
holism among them almost negligi-
BILE quantity"
e Surely the officers in all respects
" should be models for the enlisted men
: in duty, habits and department and
the examples of officers drinking
e aboard ship, as fostered by the wine
mess and the numerous courts-martial
}. of officers for drunkenness and the
I effects of alcohol are destructive Of
). discipline and morals, bad for the en-
Il listed men and name Of the service
= The navy is comparable in many re-
g spects to a great business organiza.
s ton, but no efficient corporation in
# civil life would tolerate such condi-
y ton of affairs"
Statement BY BREASTED.
= Declaring that restrictive measures
already enforced meet with public ap.
proval and are based on sound psy.
u Geological principles, the surgeon.
e. general asked the question:
=. 'Why then, are they effective for a
: part of the personnel only, instead OF
n applying with equal force to the
>. whole?"
1T is difficult" he continued, "tc
find a satisfactory answer, especially
C. In favor Of the youth of some of oul
n officers, who may now be commission
a ed at twenty-five years old, and the
proposed reduction of the minimum t
a twenty. To assume that even the
id moderate use of alcohol will bette
he equipe active service, Or mentally, t.
he meet responsibilities of the graves
- import, or intellectually, to solve prob
lens which may involve our nationa
existence, or morally, to represen
against all reason 1t may be state,
an as fact, that, except as Temporal
ne expedient in certain cases Of illness
the use of lcohol is harmful, and 1t
ret abuse disastrous, alike to the ind
es vidual and the human race. Its us
in the service is based only on out
~ to 1Ir
~, ity, by law or otherwise, for its contir
to uance, except as contained In tn
naval instructions"
"a. Discussing the question of entertain
on ment of international visitors and oil
pe- er like courtesies, the surgeon-gener;
not said: at is probable that upon certai
AN special occasions, international court
sy might render it advisable to ten
md porarily modify such regulation; tn
,ad readily could be done by department,
life order. At the same time, efforts migl
ont be made to obtain an appropriate
ON for the entertainment of our foreie
ise guests in a manner which would avo
the possible appearance of criticism
led their own customs and regulations
at Secretary Daniels, announcing h
az order, said 1t puts in effect the san
tn rule with reference to intoxicants
the navy which the laws of congre
r have imposed in the army. 1t vi
on pointed out, however. that while e
| sats To &c l. sx.Sn
ork isting Ia" pronioi's 'he sale Oh into'
ron. eating liquor on any military reese
as walton, there is no ban on the opeI
lion ton of officers clubs where alcohol
n beverages are served.