The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-18
And Liquor In Army

L
soldiers will be materially improved
PROSTITUTION.
"6. In conformity with General
Pershings orders all such places
have been placed off limits for Amer
lean officers, soldiers. and civilian en-
ployes, and our guards are attempting
TO enforce this. a very difficult fea
ture arises where women on the
streets are soliciting prostitution and
this is the most difficult feature to
handle. still there has been a marked
Improvement in the last few days
since this order was issued.
u. My object in writing this let
ter is to inform you just what has
been done and to ask the cooperation
of the French in prohibiting the sale
OF liquors. except light wines and
peers to American officers soldiers and
civiian employees. and that the sale
OF light wines and beers be prohibited
after $50 in the evening
This letter IT will be noted not only
frankly states the attitude of the Cen
erals commanding the American Ex-
peditionary Force toward PROSTITUTION
and intern perance. the increase OF ven
ereal disease and drunkenness, the eff
torts to improve conditions. and their
comparative failure, but also indi cates
the widespread, persistent violation
OF the French law by the French liq
uor dealers and the failure of the
french authorities to enforce IT,
Moreover, the appeal OF General
scott that the French authorities pro-
mott the sale to American soldiers at
anytime of any kind OF intoxicating
liquors. except light wines and beers
clearly shows that the law prohibiting
the sale OF spjrituous liquors to the
military forces was not being en-
forced.
Conditions at other port towns are
somewhat similar to those prevailing
at Bordeaux as indicated by the above
quotation from official documents
Inc American commanding officers at
all the ports of debarkation are earn
est and active in their efforts to sup
press prostitution and intemperance.
but the French local auth orities. while
courteous and polite, either do not
comprehend the American standard
or do not sympathize with 1t, and have
failed so far to render any material
assistance in securing the results
aimed at in general order No II
In Paris also conditions were un-
satisfactory and the drinking and inn
morality OF American soldiers caused
much unfavorabie comment 1t was
found to be impossible to properly
patrol city of this size, and finally
1t was decided TO allow no men or
officers on leave to visit Paris unless
there were exceptional circumstances.
but TO arrange accomm odations for
men on leave to go TO Southern France
to Aix-les- Bains, Nice Cannes. etc,
/ ms arrangement is far better than
taris, and is another evidence OF the
great interest OF General Pershing in
the moral welfare of his men But
even at these places the wine shop
ana Inc prostitute flourish with con-
sequent drinking and immortality
The battle against venereal die
ease has been waged with vigor In
telligence and marked success. Under
the direction OF some OF the most
competent and most earnest physi-
clans and surgeons OF the United
States system has been developed
which has resulted in such extraordi-
nary reduction of venereai disease that
the percentage of cases in the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Force presents an
record for either civil
or military life. 1t is probably true
that there is less venereal disease in
the American Expeditionary Force
than in any other equal mum Der OF
men in the world. not specially select
ed on account of their moral habits
But while the methods adopted to.
prevent and eradicate venereal dis
ease have made the American Expe-
Force the most efficient army
the world has ever seen so far as
Venereal disease is concerned. ii would
be misleading 10 fail to Indicate that
the degree OF efficiency the freedom
from venereal disease. must not he
taken to indicate any equal degree of
morality. Unfortunately. the records
in the office of the chief surgeon at
the headquarters OF the American
Force indicate that
sexual morality cannot be estimated
by efhciency. The records OF a dis
trict protected as Aix-les- Bains and
Chambery showed not one case of
venereal disease in six weeks in Feb
ruary and March. but over 500 pro-
phylactic treatments given during the
same time TO men who thus officially
admitted that they had exposed them
selves to venereai infection, and this
does not include the men who failed
to report their exposure because thew
had provided protection for them
selves in other ways.
1t is doubtless too much to expect
that morality and efficiency in connec-
ton with venereal diseases shall go
hand in hand. Many persons OF
prominence both in military. naval
and civil life will be satisfied with the
record made in the Grad
ication OF Venereal disease and con-
slider IL practicable and indeed am
necessary to secure better moral con-
ditions. But II is a pleasure to state
however, that the immortality of pros
Tuition Ia strongly emphasized by
many commanding officers and army
and nacvy surgeons, by lecturers of
the army, of the Y. M. c. A. and of
the Red Cross. and by literature care
fully and persistently circulated
among the troops. Confluence. abso-
lutte sexual abstinence, not only for
the sake of efficiency, but as a duty
to the man himself, to those to wnom
he may be related as husband or
father, to society in general and to
the state
With due regard for what has been
should be presented with ever-increas-
ing vigor and wisdom. Addresses and
appeals by men of prominence and
power should be made in all the
lamps. Moving pictures, tracts and
should present in a strong,
'eal way the absolute certain deterio-
alton of personal, social and civil life |
which follows the practice of sexual
immortality by the individual or so
'iety. The sweeping order issued by
General Scott that any officer or
private who is found in company with |
| women of immoral character either !