The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-08-31
WOULD PROHIBIT U.Es S. SOL
DlERS FROM ACCEPTING
FRENCH HOSPITALITY
ALL TROOPS DRINK
On the Western Front and Amer
leans Alone Would Be Forced
to Forego Use Of Liquor
Can Prohibition Be Enforced
On Battle FieId2

The conscription act prohibits the
sale of intoxicating liquors to sol
oilers In uniform. An interesting
Question will be ss TO whether this
prohibition will apply in France or
Belgium when our troops go over
there. We are raising large army to
Eight Germany and the fighting will
necessarily be In Europe. since Ger
many shows no disposition to come ts
America to Hght. There are severA
million men now I'm the field represent
Ing France. England. Canada, Austria
liza. Belgium. Italy and Russia. All the
troops on the western front are sup
piled with alcoholic liquors-wine.
beer. ale. whiskey and brandy. The
only prohibited liauor 10 absinthe In
France and vodka In Russia The
English. French. Italian. Canadian. In
dian and Australian troops have can
teens where the soldiers are permit
ted to buy liquors just 90 were United
States soldiers permitted TO have can
teens before the prohibition erase
struck Congress and resulted IN A
amendment to the Army bill abolish
ing the csntssn. They are also issusd
rations Of these liquors.
French Hospitality.
II our army In France Is to be pro-
|hibited from having rations that the
armies OF our allies have, and our SOL
diers are prohibited from scceptins
hospitality from the soldiers OF France,
England and Italy, 1t will be somewhat
embarrassing. 1t 10 an old rule that
one should accept hospitality In the
spirit IN which II Is offered; eat and
drink what the host offers without
question OF criticism. Our soldiers are
going to France 10 help drive the Ger
mans from French and Belgian soil.
The French people appreciate the serv-
ice this country Is offering, and the
French people and French soldiers will
appreciate the service OF our soldiers.
They will try to express their appre-
citation In the French way by Offering
the choicest viands OF France 10 our
soldiers.
kiiitns Joy Business.
The conscription act does not pro-
htbit our soldiers from accepting such
hospitality, but the men who inspired
L.
to prohibit by law the giving of liquor
to soldiers IL these mischief makers
and fanatics are allowed 20 have their
way they will mako our army In
France an anomaly In the war, with
our soldiers prohibited from either
purchasing wine or beer or brandy
from tho French or accepting these AZ
gifts or sharing In the French hospI
taIIty In the French canteens. And does
anyone suppose that ouch prohibition
will bc observed on the battle front?
The discipline that 10 best enforced 10
Q reasonable, not q purely fanstIeai,
discipline, and tire martinez who com,
mandD troops 10, as q rule, . vldieuioup
failure.
The men and women ghO ara Try.
ing TO have our soldiers tied To tbs
apron strings Of prohibitionists must
agree with Representative Msson that
our army can not be sent out Of the
country. and that after all the prepare
ton and appropriations for the trans
portation OF troops to Europe. We dc
not expect 10 do anything but train
men In camps which can be watched
over by the fanatical busy bodies who
never 20 into danger. Since these peo-
! pie have no intention OF getting near
' the battle front. or OF letting our sol.
diers get out OF their control they
must also hope 10 keep the army AZ
home-Nstional Hotel Gazette.