South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-11

sparine In the use OF alcohol for the
same reason that the great majority
OF our railroad men have been prac-
ticaliy total abstainers for nearly a
decade past They know that they
carry daily and hourly either their
own lives or the lives Of others in
their hands and they can't live up
to this responsibility unless they
have all their wits about them and
their heads as clear as a bell every
moment they are on duty. The
workers and fighters have not turn
ed into plaster saints or Sunday
school paragons. They simply have
a decent human feeling that il isn't
playing the game. isn't cricket as
our English allies say 10 fuddle
their wits or dun the clearness of
their judgment, even II only a frac-
ton OF percent, when lives are a;
stake
The very steadiness and incess-
antness of the hghting in this war
has helped 10 bring about this So
briefly. In earlier wars. there would
be periods OF prolonged and ire
mendous strain. forced marchings.
and the fierce excitement of battle
for a few hours or days. and then
long stretches OF enforced almost
complete inactivity. with little or
nothing 20 do but mend your equip
ment wash your cloths. eat and
sleep. and lots Of time on your hands
only 20 he ~riled away by drinking
or gambling But trench warfare
with its factory routine. its incess-
ant bombardments. its frequent
barrages and weekly raids, keeps
every soldier ION the job." alert.
wide awake. and busily occupied
two-thirds Of his waking hours.
And he can hardly let go" COM
pletely. at night, even in the rest
camps. because ne may be suddenly
awakened at any moment by an
airplane Commandment, and have TO
have ell his wits about him 10 take
cover" In fact. there is actually
no period i'm the twenty-fOur hours
when IL would be perfectly safe for
a soldier 10 get gloriously nlumi-
mated and take eight or ten hours
to sleep II off afterwards. in peace
and comfort even if ne was so dis
posed.
The French soldier. OF course, has
his pint of red wine every day but
he drinks two-thirds Of il with his
meals just like so much coffee or
tea, and the remaining two small
glasses of il will last him through
a whole evening of animated con
versatiOn and song. He has a won
derful capacity for entertaining
himself and scarcely seems to know
that persistent longing TO be amused
which is so strong in both the Eng
lish and the American soldier boy.
The actual amount of alcohol in
his wine ration is so small. that if
ne were 10 down the whole of it
in one sitting it would scarcely
more than make his visions rosy,
let alone confused.
Much has been written and said
about the famous tot Of rum served
out TO the British Tommy in the
early morning just before he goes
over the top, and the impression is
often given that the soldiers could
scarcely fight without it. But as a
matter of fact, the rum ration is
comparatively small in amount.
hot stuff what there is OF it Ger
tainly. but only about equivalent to
our three fingers OF whisky, FOR
the seasoned campaigner or any
one at all accustomed TO the use OF
liquor il does little more than warm
the stomach and start the blood TO
circulating in the chill air dawn,
and as IL Is usually mixed with mo-
lasses. it contains "A certain amount
OF real nourishment or fuel value
Indeed. even the wrath of man" is
made to serve the needs Of sObriety,
for il is said that the amount OF
actual spirit in the ration dePends
very largely upon the sergeant-ma-
jor. and not a few Of the thirstier
vessels among the TOmmies COM
plain bitterly that their rum is more
than half treacle.
As "A matter Of fact. it would be
extremely shOrt-sighted policy TO
give any soldier going into battle in
this war enough rum or any other
form Of alcoholic liquor 20 exhil-
arate him or effect his head in any
way, because if there is
any place on Gods earth where a
man needs every spoonful OF brains
that he has got and every one OF
five senses honed 20 razor edge,
it is in No Mans Land.
In our own army. hot coffee. with
condensed cream and plenty of su
ro- - q hag bnep found inst &
comforting and stimulating. with
the great advantage Of having no
after kick" In fact. many Of the
British and most OF the Canadian
and Australian soldiers decidedly
prefer il TO the rum and go to great
trouble TO secure IL wherever il is
possible TO make a fire and boil wa