The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-06-03
Alcohol in the F5
European Armies


lions OF men to the Irregularities and
exposures of life in field and camp
has naturally revived interest In and
furnished new material for the dis.
cussion of many old problems.
Among these problems is that con.
nected with the use of alcohol by
the soldiers. The time has passed |
when alcoholic liquors are to be re-
garded as inseparable from warfare
and essential for military activities
Efficiency is now the prime consider |
alton Since the last great war, sci |
entlfic research has greatly increased !
our knowledge of the effects of alco
hol on the human body. While the
Psychologist has not as yet spoken
the last word on this subject the ov-
erwhe!ming preponderance of scien-
tifc evidence is in favor of the pro-
position that the use of alcohol, In
any amounts, large or small, tends to
I impair muscular coordination, to dull
the spe. ial senses, to retard muscular
and nervous reactions and mental
processes, and to reduce efficiency in
any work requiring rapid and accur-
ate mental or physical effort The
question still open to discussion is
whether, in times of unusual expos
ure, strain and exertion, the temper
arily stimulating effects of alcohol
are sufficiently valuable to compen-
safe for its undesirable results. Evil
IDENTIFY the military authorities of Eu-
rope think so, or are still influenced
by custom or tradition, since in each
army the regulation ration OF alcohol
is still provided. In the English ar
my, 2 IL ounces OF rum are issued
to each man twice week. For men
in the trenches, this allowance Is in
creased to ounces twice a week un-
der ordinary weather conditions and
to 1-2 ounces daily In very bad
weather, making a minimum Of D
ounces a week and maximum OF
II 1-2 ounces. The regular ration of
1.2 ounces Is estimated to contain
25.5 grams Of alcohol. The French
soldier receives daily so grams Of
rum containing 20 grams of alcohol.
The German soldier is allowed 1913
grams of beer and 20 grams OF bran
dy a day. The beer which is of the
ordinary larger variety, has a low
alcohol content of only about 3.5 per
cent, but this quantity would amount
to total of 70.7 grams of actual al
r. cohol day. Austrian soldiers re
ceive each day O.5 liter of vino,
equivalent to 40 grams Of alcohol,
The physiologic effects of alcohol on
military efficiency would probably not
be co clearly apparent in the army
as in the navy. The modern battle
ship, cruiser and submarine have be-
some marvels of mechanical com
plexity and delicacy. The soldier In
the trenches might take the maxi
mum German ration OF 20 grams OF
alcohol day without impairing his
ability to handle his rifle or manipu
late a machine gun. Whether the
members of the aviation corps, the
artillery men charged with handling
. the heavy guns, or the signal men OF
whose quickness and accuracy Of vi
y sion much might depend, could main
!, tain the highest efficiency on a dali!
u allowance of alcohol remains to b.
II proved. There is, In the opinion o
. The Journal of the American Med
= cal Association, abundant testimon,
>, on the part of naval experts to shoy
:. that alcohol diminishes the accurac
Of the gun pointer on the battleshi
= and so reduces the umber of probabl
~ hits. Dutch courage" has hereto
" fore been regarded as an indispenss
bic equipment OF warfare, and alec
hol has been looked on as the all
10 rather than the enemy Of the fightin
10 man; but the present war will r,
o' verse the opinions OF the civllize
u world on a good many questions an
u It is possible that the indispensable
q ity OF alcohol in the army may
u one OF them The American Medici
d. Journal.