New-York tribune., 1918-01-08
Pershing's Men Become
Depraved in France, Says
Temperance Board
Fosdick Enters
Emphatic Denial
Declares He Is Misquoted,
and That the Troops
Are Well Protected

A shocking indictment of the Amer
ican army in France on grounds of in
+emperance, immortality and depravity
/, contained in "Clip Sheet" prepared
and published by the Board of Tenn
nerance, Prohibition and Public Morals
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
This board is regularly constituted
and authorized adjunct of the Church.
Its chairman is Bishop W. +. Nc
Dowell. Its headquarters is at Wash
ngton.
The "Clip Sheet" has been sent
broadcast to religious periodicals and
is intended, as the name implies, to
he reprinted, in part or in whole. 1t
is, or purports to be, piece of tenn
perance propaganda.
Headed "Appalling Drunkenness
Among Troops lmperils the Safety Of
the Army Abroad" the statement gives
an alleged account of conditions as they
exist among the American fighting
forces in France. The only authorities
cited ere a letter from "the son of
Americas most distinguished citizen"
and lady writing from French sea-
port. TIE former, obviously, is one of
the sons of Theodore Roosevelt, al
though the article does not so state.
Roosevelt's Son Quoted
Inquiry disclosed that one of the
Roosevelt boys had written his father
in effect that what he had seen in
France had converted him to prohibit
ton forever but he gave no such
sensational details as are contained in
the Methodist pronouncement. 1t was
ssid for Colonel Roosevelt yesterday
that he had held the letter in con-
fdence. and that reference to it hy the
Methodists was entirely unauthorized.
1t is denied that anything in the letter
could have been the basis for the
charges made by the Methodist board.
Just as prepared by the Board of
temperance, Prohibition and Public
Morals of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. its statement follows:
Drink and the devil of syphilis are
whipping American soldiers who have
reached France into the guardhouses
and hospitals by the thousands.
Conditions Are Horrifying"
Conditions are horrifSing and have
made me q prohibitionist for life,
writes the son of Americas most dis.
t.nguished private citizen. He declares
IL r \ &1--
upon landing among both officers and
men is appalling, that the guardhouses
are overflowing with drunken men and
the hospitals filled to capacity with
drink made patients
And all because the government,
which IS protecting our soldiers at
home, which has established and main
tanned camps that arc the marvel of
history, has abandoned these same men
when they cross the seas.
Ten hundred and forty-six men from
one suburban community in the North
eastern section of the United States
were under guard for drunkenness
after their first pay day in France.
Nearly all the officers of the last
lot Of men landing got drunk their first
night ashore writes q lady from a
French seaport What can they ex-
pect Of their men,
Any American soldier having illicit
relations with a woman must report for
prophyactc treatment within six
nours. This precaution almost insures
immunity from disease. In France to-
gay soldiers who pass the harlots with
nigh head when sober fall into their
Welcoming arms when drunk. and in
lhelr irresponsible condition fail to re-
port for until {
opportunity have passed, and they are
out OF the war with foul bodies. crushe d
nearts and everlasting shame upon
Their heads.
Point to Extreme Case
"A short time ago Frank Cadue, an
american boy who had enlisted while
Afed with devotion to his country and
1eal against her enemies, was hanged
ny the neck because shooting was toe
sood Tor him. He had raped a seven
!ear-old French girl while drunk
., lhs case was officially reported al
'he time by General Pershing
One may exhaust the adjectives, he
may call the present state Of affairs
appalling, 'horrifying,' but nothing
expresses its horror better than to say
simply that it is 'unnecessary.' By
i,eeiments the manhood Of America is
ne.hg whipped to the rear, and it neee
not be so.
,:lhe disastrous effect of this death
t;va,ey f;ny @ abroad is not limited to it's vic
w., throughout this country a feel
tne e ol bitterness dangerous in the cx-
me ac;n" Is arising and gazing with men
ers eyes toward France. The moth
rlao VINO nave reared sons strong and
rll' ana who have given them with
Ss" S"u' II aching, hearts women who
srse sra loved France and glorified her
wan no" muttering that our BOYS are
bsm't b".ea Tor the profits of their de-
in inavnery' and not to take their deaths
"ss.rehgth and cleanliness.
F,oano nno this feeling is not justified
'ahce is not to blame,
un'ted States Agents "Catspavs"
mu me conditions now prevailing
tho De blamed upon the agents Of
msa american government who hava
pro1 themselves the catspaws of the
onIIr"erman onI,. brewers, who are intent
and dppn dpp protecting their prestige
Ama, aeoauching the influence Of
will do future leadership France
stunu 10 anything it is asked to do. and
blsmss py criticism, has heaped the
sesno.pon upon the men who are really
"nen the United States entered
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