New-York tribune., 1918-01-08

france than the government of TuniS
is showing for the safety OF the la
borers it has sent to that country. The
French government, in response to a
request from the government of Tunis.
has forbidden the sale Of wine or other
alcoholic liquors to Tunsians en-
p.oyed in France.
"Colonel AZan, of the French army,
who is now in America. in a recent con-
versation with Mrs. Elizabeth Tilton
declared that the American people must
rot fall a prey to the fallacy that
French wines are not Intoxicating; that,
IN fact, they produce drunkenness as
certainly as brandy.
Light Wines Will Intoxicatc
~ have had men drunk again and
again from taking nothing but our
lightest wines," he said. eve have not
lumber enough in France to build many
barracks for your soldiers, and they
must live in the houses Of the natives.
Every house will have cellar contain
ing wines and brandies. The French
your boys to drink. Your boys must
be able to say, Our commander in
chief has forbidden us to take any
wine, beer, cider or distilled liquors.
We are good soldiers and cannot dis
obey The Frenchman loves military
obedience and will say, Don't ask the
American troops to drink. because it
makes them disobey their commander
Ask as q matter Of international cour-
tesy that your troops be protected
from carte blanche to drink vine as
we'll as other liquors." Colonel Azan
edvises
What is the motive Of the brewers :?
Why do they wish to debauch our boys,
destroy them with diseases, SAP their
morale? Many of them have been
widely known for their pro- Germanism.
That figures in it, But, above all, they
want to debauch the influence of our
future heroes and leaders. They want
10 protect their prestige at home.
"And the present attitude of Amer
ica serves them in their purpose.
Brotherhood" Appealed To
"Will the great prohibition states of
the West and South stand for it? Will
American motherhood tolerate it? Will
4 patriots throughout the bounds of the
| United States, men who care little
about temperance but much about vic
tory, men who arc tired of foolinr and
gambling with the nations safety, men
who are determined that this war shall
| be brought to a completely victorious
end at the earliest possible moment
will they permit it?
Let every right thinking man take
steps that will show Mr.. Fosdick that
the opinion Of the brewers cannot be
safely set against the opinion Of Amer
lean medicine and science, and that to
protect his excellent record at home
he should act now Let them indicate
to the Secretary of War that the sit
uation demands his personal attention.
Let them drive through. if need be, to
the President himself, until measures
have been taken which will protect our
armies and the popularity of our
Allies. Even more, if all other methods
fail to secure quick action, let them
insist upon Congressional attention to
this reeking scandal"
Ever since it became known by cable
that Persnirgs men were to some ex-
tent allowed to drink the light native
wines and beers Of France champagne,
brandy and other drinks of high alco-
holic content are barred temperance
bodies in this country have been ag-
tating for an overseas force as bone
dry as those in training here. In this
country no man in uniform may drink
On December 4 last the board of
temperance Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, meeting in Washington, adopt
ed resolutions urging the enforcement
of strict prohibition among American
soldiers and sailors abroad This stand
was subsequently Endorsed by the
National w. c. T. T., the National
Anti Saloon League, the National TEN
perance Council and the international
Reform Bureau. Presumably in fur
!, therance of this propaganda yester-
days statement by the Methodist
Church was issued.