The Irish standard., 1917-10-27

MORAL BENEFITS OF THE WAR.
BY Rev. James Donahoe.
(Fifth Article)

One year of war will effect marked improve.
ment in American physique
uncle Sam has become very much concerned about
the physical soundness of his numerous nephews.
He has done some serious thinking about how to
improve and preserve the strength of those of mill
tary age; and now he is doing cleanup work that
would have been long delayed it not for our
our entrance into big The United States needs
capable men for her army and navy. To win her
battles she needs physically fit fight and en-
dure Secretary Daniels said a few days ago:
To-day as never before American manhood must
be clean We must have physical fitness. America
stands in need of every ounce of her strength We
must cut out the cancer if we are to live"
What does the Secretary of the U. S. Navy refer
TO by the term cancer He means, of course, the
social evil. Cultured speakers and writer's have been
using the latter term-social evil-so as not to
shock sensitive natures by plainly referring to the
physical the moral and political conditions embraced
under the term social evil
1t is well that mature citizens know the extent of
the ravages caused by bad social conditions in this
country 1t is pertinent at this time to refer the
extent OF preventable diseases in our army and navy
in recent years because many heretofore clean young
men are entering the army and navy and the public,
after getting intelligent grasp of the great moral
dangers confronting the soldier and sailor should
unite in sane program to make every military camp
and training ground immune from the defng and
degrading influence of immoral and intoxicat-
ing liquor.
The moral conditions obtaining in the American
army and navy of late years have been regrettabe.
In recent times retiring secretary of army
gave out statistics relating to the extent of
venereal diseases among American soldiers that is
alarming. He compared the records of the United
States army Tin this regard) with the records of
European armies and found that the moral status
of our army below that of any other group of
soldiers in Europe Excerpts from this report would
be here quoted were it not that might deem that
by so doing the writer would be acting unwisely
and alphabetically.
On Oct. 23rd the Associated Press printed peril
nent parts of address by Secretary Daniels regard
ing the extent of venereal diseases in the American
Navy. The Navy suffers and business halts because
venereal diseases destroy the manhood of workmen
and fighters. During the last statistical year
of the American Navy lost 141,378 days. sickness
from small group of absolutely preventable
diseases, rather diseases contracted by sin. This
means that every day throughout the year there
were 456 men disabled by this disagreeable malady.
The remedy? There is but cne-continence. This
must be preached in the home in the school, in the
marts of trade, in pulpits in military camps and
among shipmates afoat."
Is there anything to be done than the use
of moral of suasion suggested above? There
tainly is We turn now to Secretary of War Baker
who is making most commendable efforts to clean
up military camp surroundings we'll as the camps
themselves that he may train his men to become fit
to fight the best troops of any hostile country.
Secretary Baker has made it quite clear mayors
and responsible officials of cities and towns adjoin
ing military camps that, within certain radius of
camp he won't tolerate any professional woman nor
will he permit the sale to his of the stuff that
arouses their animal passions, robs them of their
sense of right doing and by their becoming prey
to mercenary women lands them in time in post
military cantonment hospital. About four
months ago Secretary Baker said:
I'm the training camps already established
to be established, large bodies of men, selected pr.
mariy from the youth of this country will be gath
cred together for period of intensive training The
greater proportion of this force will probably be
made up of young men who have not yet become
accustomed to contact with either the saloon the
prostitute, and who will be at the plastic and i'm
pulsve period of life when they should be sur
rounded with safeguards against temptations to
which they not accustomed. We cannot allow
these young men, of whom will have been draft
demorazing environment nor should we leave
anything undone which will protect them from I'M
healthy Influences and the worst kinds of tempta-
ton. am determined that training
camps, we'll as the surrounding zones within
effective radius, shall not be places of temptation
and peril" Our worthy Secretary of War then asks
the cooperation Of all citizens in proximity to mill
tary camps, to assist him in bringing about clean
nels may present themselves to you you impress
in this matter" Best of all we find the head of
army stating quite positively that if city Off