The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1918-01-04


December Is he issued general order
fofbidding the members of the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Forces to drink
any alcoholic beverages except light
wines and beer. This order cabled in
full to the United States and printed
in many newspapers was misconstrued
by some as an endorsement of light
wines and beers by General Pershing
That this is not the case was later
made clear by an explanation in which
General Pershing went on record
clearly and positively against the use
of all intoxicants, including light
wines, by our soldiers. An associated
press dispatch dated December %,
as printed in the Chicago Tribune,
reads in part as follows:
Pershing Explains Order
General Pershing told correspond
ents today that the question of pro-
nibiting the sale of all Intoxicating
liquors to American troops which he
favors is being discussed with the
French government. He explained
his recent order prohibiting the sale
of all intoxicants except light wine
and beer, and the conditions prevail
ing in France which caused it to be
drawn as it was.
"Thc question of prohibiting the
sale of all intoxicants to American
troops is under discussion with the
French government" General Perish
ing said, "but, of course, there are
difficulties here in France that do not
exist in the United States The gem
eral order issued December is was a
.fass Z. u ssr- ID ttts ~ esset ;Gi,s ~
drinking among Our men.
"It was not by any means intended
to convey an injunction to the Ameri-
can troops to drink light wine and
beer, but quite the reverse. 1t was
drawn to conform to the French reg
ulations on the subject.
at stated only that light wine and
beer would be permitted and prohib-
tied the purchase of and acceptance
OF gifts OF whisky, brandy, cham
pagne, or similar beverages. It or
dered that all drinking places where
such articles are sold be forbidden
American soldiers. 1t is the same
regulation made in France by the
British army and by the French.
although | am heartily in favor
of Prohibition for the American ex-
peditionary force, the situation in
France and the United States is not
the same. Comparatively few French
people drink water as we do; they
drink wine instead.
obviously, there are obstacles to
forbidding wine shops in the zone of
the army to do business at all, which
practically is what the French would
have to do. Local sentiment will play
large part in the determination OF
the questions.
Drink and Vice Related
"The same order which forbade sol
diers taking strong drink contained
the most rigid regulations to prevent
the spread of the social diseases. The
two questions are connected closely"
The associated press dispatch is
verified by a cable from the special
correspondent of the Chicago Daily
News with the American army in
France as follows:
Explaining his general order issued
December Is, forbidding the members
of the American expeditionary force
to drink any alcoholic beverages ex-
cept light wines and beer, General
Pershing said yesterday that he fa-
vored total Prohibition for the army
and had taken up some time ago with
the French government the question
of securing the necessary regulations
to put it into effect He is now aawit-
ing reply from the French,
General Pershing favors Prohibi-
ton not only because he believes that
it will improve the moral tone and the
fighting morale and efficiency of the
army, but because with dry army
the percentage OF troops in hospitals
will be lower and the percentage of
effective troops for fighting cores
pondingly higher.
War Department Issues Statement
The misunderstanding of Pershing's
Prohibition order resulted because it
was drawn to conform with existing
French laws The War Department in
explaining the situation added this
statement:
"The department is advised by Gen