Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1918-07-19
MILITARY FORCE
AYPATROL CITY
Major Buist Explains Why Or
der Keeping Soldiers From
This City Was Issued.
SAYS DRINKS WERE SERVED
No Effort Made by Police. He
Says, to Apprehend Saloon
keepers Who Sell to Soldiers
SAYS DRINKS WERE SERVED

Major Buist, at his office at Camp
Raritan yesterday afternoon. when
interviewed by an EVENING NEWS
reporter concerning the Issuing OF
orders restraining soldiers of the
camp from visiting this city, passed
the buck" so to speak, to the local
police force.
Only a few minutes were consumed
In the ,Alk between the reporter and
Major Suist, but in that time 1t was
stated f7ore than once that the lack
of cooperation of the police Of this
city wac the main reason for the or
der being issued, and although not
generally IN force as yet, will become
so within q short time.
Because of the fact that soldiers
are able to obtain liquor here, and
the city must be made safe for Uncle
Sans men, there is no doubt that
within q very short time, according
to Major Buist, military police Will
be placed here. as has already been
done In New Brunswick. These men
will not only aid the local police In
guarding the city, but their captain
win be stationed at the police head
quarters and they will receive their
orders from him.
Although stationed here under their
own captain, the work of the police
will be done under the direction of the
city police officials. Not only Will
these men be stationed here to look
after the soldiers who may visit the
city, and keep them in order, but they
are authorized as well to arrest civil
ians II occasion requires.
Major Buist declared that all the
drunkenness OF the camp has been
traced TO Perth Amboy. There Is
no co cooperation from the authorities"
he said. Soldiers are arrested for
nj orlU h1at
saloonkeeper is let CO."
Although he said he had no author
fty for the statement which follows,
he evidently believed 1t true. He said
he had been informed that a place
had been discovered In this city where
negro women were serving drinks to
soldiers. The police department was
notified and asked to raid the house,
but refused to take action, possibly
through lack of evidence.
To show the treatment given by
the police to soldiers arrested here,
MaJor Buist cited the case of two SOL
diers who had been arrested and fined
800 and then turned out after three
days imprisonment, without notify
ing the camp. The men were sent to
Camp Mills yesterday, leaving Camp
Raritan shortly after Major Buist's
interview with the reporter ended.
The major pointed out the fact,
that q number of the saloons OF the
city are operated by Hungarians and
stated that the saloonkeepers will be
held liable for arrests OF soldiers who
are found in a drunken condition.
In closing the interview Major Bu-
list said that this month their would
be 10000 soldiers stationed at the
camp and in speaking of the cooper
alton OF the police and city authori-
ties said. ''If they work with me. I'll
work with them. On second thought.
he said. "I'n only be too glad to-"
In closing. Major Buist said that the
city throws temptation In the way of
the men and II the police will not
clean up these temptations. the next
best thing to do is to keep the soldiers
from coming Ia. this city.
Several soldiers from the camp on
their way to New Brunswick were
seen by the NEWS man and they all
expressed the thought that II was q
shame they could not come here. They
all said they liked Perth Amboy End
enjoyed coming here, but with the
prohibitive order. they could not. They
said that the New Brunswick Y. NJ. c.
A. has been closed to them, and that
they had enjoyed coming to this city
TO enjoy the privileges OF the associa-
ton whose doors are always open to
them and where all facilities are at
their disposal. They all said that
they missed the kindly word OF greet
ing they received at the local Y. NJ.
G. A. and the swimming pool and
other features.