The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-04-10
PROHIBITS Wine
MESS ON Ships
Sec. Daniels Bars Liquor
From Tables of Officers.
Report Of Surgeon General Putting
Ban on System Sanctioned
by Department Head.


hibttion will prevail in the United
States Navy after July 1. next.
Secretary Daniels tonight made pub
lie a sweeping order, which not only
will abolish the traditional "wine
ness of the officers but will bar
all alcoholic liquors from every ship
ara shore station of navy. This or
der constituting one of the most no.
table victories ever won by the pro-
hibition forces, was issued upon the
recommendation of Surgeon General
BREASTED. II was brief to the point.
THE use or introduction for drink
ing purposes of alcoholic liquors on
board any naval vessel. or within
any navy yard or station is strictly
prohibited. and commanding officers
wild be held directly responsible for
the enforcement of this ORDER
In a statement issued tonight Sec
rotary Daniels said:
II am In hearty agreement with
the views expressed by the Surgeon
General i'm his paper accompanying
the Recommendation. There should not
be on ship board with reference to
intoxicants, one rule for officers and
another and different rule for the en-
listed personnel. The saddest hour in
my life is when an officer or enlist
cd man must be punished for intoxi-
cation. During the past week II has
Been mt painful duty to approve
court martial for dismissal from the
service of an officer for intoxication.
lie told me that he had never tasted
intoxicant drink until he did SO In
the wine mess on the cruise. Others
who have been disciplined for drink
ing TO excess, have made similar
statements to me.
Officers are now commissioned at
the early age Of % years. Has the
Government a right to permit this
temptation which too often destroys
the highest usefulness OF young Of
ficers? think not. II there Is one
profession more than any other that
calls for clear head and o steady
hand, II is the naval profession. Ex-
perience has shown the wisdom or
having no intoxicants on our ships
for tho young men, who enlist.
81 believe experience has demon
strated that a uniform rule should pre-
vail in the navy for all who enlist
in the service. from the highest rank
to the youngest enlisted man or Of
ficer, who comes into the service and
that abolition of the wine mess. will
be justified"
The new order will replace that
section of the naval instructions
which permits the formation OF wine
messes. This provision reads:
"Wardroom officers may form a
wine mess OF which all commissioned
and warrant officers attached to the
shin may become members, upon the
payment OF mess entrance fee; but no
officer shall be required to become
a member theref. Suitoable locker
room for wine mess stores shall be
provided when fitting a ship FOR
sea"
While admitting that the old regn-
lation conforms to the letter Of the
laws. Surgeon General Braistod In
his letter to Secretary Daniels Tie
clared "it may be an open question
how far 1t fulfiils those laws In
spirit" lie explained that the use
of alcoholic stimulants, was inner
tied with many outworn customs at
the very birth of the American
Navy" and reviewing Legislation on
the subject he observed, at must be
clear that Congress has plainly Bel
the stamp of disapproval upon the
use OF intoxicants by persons in the
navy and military services"
AS matters stand today" wrote
the Surgeon General. ian enlisted
man is very properly subjected to
severe disciplinary measures IL wine
or beer is found in his possession on
shipboard. yet the same man is con-
stantlv aware OF the free use OF al
cholic liquors on board ship which
Is officially permitt,u 10 officers aud
the TOO frequent derilections which
occur among them in consequence.
The prohibition OF alcohol 10 the men