The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-01
O IN THE WAR.
All the Armies But the Russian Con.
sumo Wines, Beer or Spirits.

IN editorial article printed on Septem-
Der 21 say THE SUN has spoken
Of one beneficent feature Of the present
most stupendous war In history--the
practical abolition Of alcohol by most OF
the warning nations" should like to
ask II by "alcohol' you mean alcoholic
drinks"? If so, the statement Is very
far from being I'm accordance with the
facts.
Among the warning nations Russia
alone has barred all alcohol from the
army and has Instituted what appears
to be general prohibition. Since. how
ever. the issuance OF the prohibitory
order grave abuses " sprung up In
many parts Of Russia. This has been
evidenced by the widespread substitu-
ton Of varnish. eau de cologne. tincture
Of vaierian. denatured alcohol, wood
alcohol and other fluids for liquor.
Large numbers OF illicit distilleries have
also been detected. Impressed by these
pronounced evils n the disastrous cir
cumstances attending them, several high
officials of the Russian Government have
already declared In favor OF allowing the
sale of such light drinks az beer and
wine. Whether the sale OF vodka will
be allowed again In p~roblematical.
England. in spite OF the protest OF
some prohibition organizations. continues
the ancient custom Of giving the men
In the army and navy rum and bitter
beer. At the same time the British Gov
eminent. in order to encourage efh-
cheney in the industrial establishments.
has taken measures to restrict the sale
OF heavy i~ntoxicants. but has encoura ged
the use OF mild beers.
The French Government has prohib-
tied the sale OF absinthe. cocktails and
bitters. According 10 the British Medi-
cal Journal. the French soldier daily re-
celves nifty grams OF rum containing
twenty grams OF alcohol. and the daily
wine ration has been increased. In an
order issued by the French Government
regulating the use Of drinks In indus
trial establishments heavy alcoholic
drinks have been prohibited. but beer.
wine and cider have been expressly
named as hygienic drinks. and no re-
DIRECTION is therefore placed upon their
use.
Italy. Serbia and Montenegro have
made no new restrictions on drink. In
Serbia IL is forbidden to sell liquor In
any large qua nifty to soldiers or persons
addicted to drink. With "A view to con
serving the foo supply. Denmark has
prohibited the use Of potatoes and vari-
Gus kinds Of corn In the manufacture OF
alcohol. and Norway has decreed SINH
lar measures. The commission on alec
hol appointed by the Norwegian Govern
ment recently reported adversely to
prohibition and in favor Of giving the
sale Of beer a 'freer'' position 80 AS Ia
discourage the use OF heavy alcoholic
drinks.
Austrian soldiers receive each day
0.5 liter OF wine. equivalent to forty
grams of alcohol. Suspended to a neck
lace Austrian soldiers carry a small
flask OF whishey to be used after forced
marches.
Germany has curtailed the amount OF
grain used in brewing and distlllation
in order 10 conserve its stock of cereals
but no drink regulations have been made
for the army. German soldiers may
receive by parcel post any kline Of food
or drink that is addressed to them. Ir
November of last year the German
Bundesrath adopted a resolution remit
ting certain taxes on beer which Ger.
man brewers send gratis TO the soldiers
in the field and to the Red Cross So
ciety. demonstrating by this act that thu
Government. far from prohibiting, really
I fsvors the consumption of beer by II.
soldiers, And o. July ls Of this year
the 'Intendantur" OF the Third Arm,
Corps. which has been entrusted will
the purchase Of beer for the German
army. made arrangements with the Ger
man Brewers Association to reQuisitiot
90 per cent. of the total output OF the
breweries to be used by the soldiers a
the front.
) In view of the foregoing facts do you
: not think that the statement as to thu
! practical abolition OF alcohol by mos
, OF the warning nations ought to HI
modified? AS France has abolished alb
sinthe. your editorial article might h
nearer correct IL the term alcohol
were used as II IL In Franc Their
alcohol means distilled liquors II
distinction from fernented liquors tcider
. wine and beer), which in all official com
m~unications of the French Government
are termed 'hygienic drinks" But eve'
France has not prohibited all alcohol
i Distilled liquors like whiskey and brand.
e are still being sold.
t In an edition OF THE sun publishe,
= early this year there was quoted T.;
. despatch from France stating that tn,
s French Government in abolishing al
e sinthe promulgated "A new law by which
dealers selling only "hygienic drinks
I but no distilled spirits could do so with
out paying The usual special tax. TIL
I French laws Of 1900 reduced the forne
4 Government tax OF wine, cider and beer
: and AT tire same time. as a counte
measure. there was imposed on dlstille,
I beverages an increase in the shape of
surtax amounting TO 30 per cent. r,
D. these acts France demonstrates that |,
u too. like Germany, ENCOURAGES the US
e OF fermented beverages.
y The assertion that most of the war
= ring nations have practically abolishe'
= alcohol has often been made by the pro
h~ibitionists in order Ia show that Euro
pean nations are beginning 10 agre
with American prohibitionists in thei
views as TO alcoholic beverages, As
matter Of fact the whole trend Of Euro
MANN 1aUiglottnn 10 tha Nsarx. nn.nSfta ,