New-York tribune., 1918-03-13

are Whipping American soldiers who have
reached France into the guardhouse and hos
pltals by the thousands" For that reason, he
says, throughout this country feeling
of bitterness dangerous in the extreme is
arising and gazing with menacing eyes tow
ard France. The mothers who have reared
sons strong and clean, and who have given
them with glad, aching hearts-women who
have loved France and glorifed her.are
now muttering that boys are wanted
for the profits of their debauchery and not
to take their deaths in strength and clean
illness. And this feeling against France)
is not justified. France is not to blame
The conditions now prevailing must be
blamed upon the agents of the American
government who have made themselves the
catspaws of the pro-German brewers, who
are intent only upon protecting their pres
tlge and debauching the influence of Amer
icas future leadership"
This is shocking charge. It would
seem impossible that Clarence True Wilson
could make it without. some proof to sup
port him. Yet here are the facts:
Last September, when the recruits for
the National Army were being assembled
IN the environments, as many as 400 out
of every 1000 men were admitted to the
hospitals with venereal diseases. The ad-
mission rate for the men in those camps
is now, not 400 per 1000, but 63S. And
the admission rate for the men in our ex-
pedltonary forces is not even 69.S but as
low as OIL. In other words, instead of
deDauchng our youth, military service is
improving the very condition among them
which Clarence True Wilson denounces.
And the men IN France, instead of being
whipped into the hospitals" by drink and
the devil, have lower admission rate than
the American soldiers at home
The admission rate for the United States
regulars in 1909 vas 1869 per 900 for
Venereal diseases. In 1910 it was 174 1t
had fallen by 1916 to 91.23. 1t is now as
low as 69.2. The rate for the Nationa.
Guard is GA.
That Improvement is the result of
campaign of education and of strict medical
supervision. 1t is the result Of such orders
as this from General Pershing: Empress
strongly upon commanders of our troops
coming through England the utmost i'm
portance of moral and disciplinary training
at home, and particularly the constant vigil
lance needed on their arrival in England and
France" And the policy of General Perish
ing and the War Department is the very
opposite of that which Clarence True Will
son charges against "the agents of the
American government"
In the course of his article he accuses
Mr.. Raymond d. Fosdck of having said
"that hard liquors should be kept from SOL
dicrs, but that anything up to 23 per cent
is harmless" He protests that "23 per
cent wine is just about as harmless as
rough on rats" No doubt it is. But he
might have had sense enough to know that
Mr.. Fosdck could never have made such a
statement He might have investigated He
would have learned that Mr. Fosdck never
said that or anything like it. 1t is the in
vcntion of some pro- German slanderer who
desired to gull just such credulous critics
of the government as Mr.. Clarence True
Wilson has proved himself to be-
He concludes: "The present attitude of
the government toward drinking abroad
Houts the expressed opinion of the Ameri-
can Medical Association, houts the medical
section of the Council of National De-
fence, fouts," ETC., etc.. "and spits con-
tumcly upon the fierce mother-love of
millions of watching women"
And here again he is wholly misinformed
and wholly ridiculous. There is no liuuor
ration served to our soldiers either at
home abroad, despite all the persistent
rumors to the contrary. No ntoxcants can
be bought in the canteens connected with
the American forces anywhere. BY General
Pcrshings orders soldiers in France "are
forbidden either to buy or accept as gifts
from the inhabitants whskey, brandy,
champagne, liquor or alcoholic beverages
other than light wine beer" AS there is
10 I1o, 4 ~
reports, "men who drink are thus limited
to the light native wine used by all French.
people. Even this is discouraged among our
troops in every possible, way. l hope to Sc
cure the cooperation of the French govern
ment to prevent the sale of all liquors and
wines to our troops The question is under
discussion. Personally, l favor prohibition
in the army, but it is mpracticable and in
advisable to issue orders that cannot be
enforced without the cooperation of the
French government" (Cable from General
Pershing to Washington, December 26,
1919
General Pershing's policy is the policy of
the American government Clarence True
Wilson's attack is without the faintest
justification in fact. His appeal to minis
tcrs ITO write letter to President Wilson
asking him to protect our soldiers from al
coholic drink in England and France" is
unnecessary. The person who needs pro-
lection is Clarence True Wilson. He needs
to be protected from Intoxicating slanders
poured into him by the pro- German moon
sinners who are llicitly distilling these
lies.
After Clarence True Wilson, the editor
of "Colicr's Weekly"
Under the heading "Mr Bakers Hu-
manity" "Colier's" says of the sinking of
the Tuscania: after many days and nights
nobody, least of all Mr.. Bakers depart
mcnt, knew which were saved and which
were lost. In the first place, nobody knew
who sailed on the Tuscnnia. Our soldiers
arc not permitted to tell their friends and
relatives when they arc sailing, or on what
ship. or from what port. The War Depart.