The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-24
TOBACCO At THE 'FRONT.'.
II Plays Its Part With Cannon. Mines
and Bombs in Europe's War.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sfr: The
effect OF tobacco on physique and MN
will always he a subject of controversy
between those who oppose and those VINO
advocate its use. No question or hu-
man Interest is more likely to open the
way for scientific. and. according to the
doctrine of the Methodist Church. moral
discussion. This goes without saying.
but when YOU correspondent u. L."
quotes from an article written ny an
ex-president of the American Medical
Association warning the surgeons of the
armies now ~ war IN Europe TO guard
against the cvil effects of tobacco l
cant quite follow him. Any such state
ment that tobacco "undermines tho en-
d~urance' or health of the fighting SOL
der is not susceptible OF proof. -.
Tobacco. as much as powder n
shells. Is n munition of war. 1t Is evil
IDENTIFY indispensable too. for ever since
the struggle was on nc appeals for help
have been more urgent than those Tor
supplies of tobacco. Under the auspices
OF societies organized for the purpose
distributions Of cigars. cigarettes, pipes
and smoking tobacco are being made to
all the armies. This IS entirely outside
the provision the various Governments
make to furnish tobacco to their armies.
These volunteer agencies are officially
commended by the King Of England. by
the Kaiser and by the King OF the Bel
CLANS. To my personal knowledge two
women of title. one from Belgium and
one from Great Britain. have come to
the United states solely to bring the
soldiers needs for obacco to wider at
tcntion. One of these women. a prin-
cess In her own country. told me the
men I'm the trenches were more In need
Of tobacco han OF food or any other
creature comfort.
II have seen them trade their rations
for tobacco" this woman said to me.
| am not going to enter into "a discus
sion whether tobacco Is harmful OF not,
because IL Is not pertinent Just now.
What IL sure is that there is no evidence
ut hand that the tobacco Ahich Is be-
ing consumed where the fight. ng IL
~iiercest minlmlzes mental courage or
"uudcrmines endurance" In all the
history OF the world there never was a
inner show OF bravery under more trying
conditions. Yet these are the men who
arc asking for tobacco as starving men
ask for bread.
If any one doubts whether smoking Is
the fighting soldiers solace. have some
man who has been In the thick of It
tell you what he saw. or better still,
note the evidence OF tobacco's place In
these times which try mems souls as
MS evidence Is caught by the camera.
Every war picture Is proof that tobacco
is the need OF the man under arms. Cen
cral Petain, the hero OF Nerdun. Is al
ways smoking when you see him pic
tured. SO are the men In the ranks. the
poor devils who are defending his line.
The war pictures tell the story. Their
endurance has not been undermined. nor
has Petain's mind been dulled BY the
same indulgence.
After all, 1t has remained for this war
10 write the epic for tobacco Here. II
never before, II has triumphed over all
- In peace too II has had
lis victories no less renowned than war.
con after "A whole evening spent IN medi-
tative silence. while they smoked the
hours sway, We are told. Carlyle said
to Emerson: Mon. mon. but we've had
q fine time G. Il. 5.
NEW YoRK, NAV On.