Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-01-12


expression from the homes and native
associations Of the soldiers, upon this
important question.
1t is plain to the government, and to
every American who is accustomed to
use his brain for his own and for pub
lie service, that the difficulties referred
to by General Pershing should be at
tackled by our government just as de-
termindedly and relentlessly as we
would attack Germany or any other
enemy of this country that is reducing
the life, service, or efficiency OF our
soldiers or our civilians. 1t would seem
to US that Congress, by the advice or
and in cooperation with man VINO
could evolve such a message as that
delivered by President Wilson to Con-
gress on Tuesday. should be able to
meet the difficulties pointed out by
General Pershing and save our boys
from the worst enemy Of Europe or any
other nation.
From statistics gathered by DR.. Car
ence True Wilson for the Board or
Temperance, we quote the undisputed
assertion that "1047 of the officers and
men Of a unit recruited in commun-
ity of northeastern United States. were
in the guard house for drunkenness
and disorder on the day following their
first pay day in France.
Shall we call that the intensive
training" for which these men were
sent to France to be prepared for the
war front?
|, An officer of the First Maine H. +. A.
now quartered at Charlotte, n. G., says
that in Camp Greene, where there are
many thousands Of American soldiers.
a case of intoxication is almost un-
known, and that in the city of Char
lotte, with a population Of 10000, case
of drunkenness is seldom seen. Is the
experience of this country in connec-
ton with camps at home. where laws
passed by Congress and enforced by the
government have produced remarkable
results. to be neglected and ignored
when these same men are sent across
70 the booze-drinking countries of our
allies?
Is it a matter Of no consequence that
~, oft
of these soldiers in this country is be-
ing undermined by the news that is
coming home from our forces abroad?
In a private letter from a Maine SOL
dier now in France, which We were per-
mitted to read the other day, the writ
er remarked that, ''our boys confine
themselves almost wholly to cham
pagne, but it sure does make them
cut up some queer antics" Has that
statement from a perfectly reliable
source no significance?
There is the work of the harmless
light wines" of France.
We remember when the people Of
this country became fully aroused to
the damnable influence of the ''neces-
sary" canteen in every army camp; and
we also remember when the toddy is
sued in our navy was as necessary as
any other portion of the ration. But
the people and the influence of their
iiot o.
partments ended those things for all
time. and we predict that when the
people Of this country become fully
aroused to the magnitude of the evil
that is undoing in France the great
work of preparation of Americas best
manhood for war, that this guzzling
of Harmless wines" in France will be
stopped, either by government under
standing and cooperation, or an out
spoken ultimatum from America that
the business must cease, Chowever
much the wine growers and makers of
France may need the money! or Ameri-
can forces will be withdrawn from the
French field.
We are not raising and equipping
great armies to be exploited by the
booze interests of any other nation, and
it is time that our government and the
French government should fully under
stand the temper of the American peo-
Pile