The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-18

army and navy by Congressional
action. and whatever good has
resulted from the rest OF the or
der the exemption Of light wines
and beer has not only produced
no results To compensate for the
public official lowering OF the
American prohibitory standard.
but on the contrary The drinking
of wine and beer have undonbt-
cdly been increased by tho order,
and men are forming wine-drink-
Ing habits which viii plague them
for life. Furthermore, under
cover af the permit to drink
wine. the stronger liquors are
frequently purv hased without de-
lection or punishment.
g. The mall service from the
United states 10 the forces in
Europe Is not satisfactory. II IL
handled slowly. and MANY un-
necessary mistakes and delays
occur. and men absent from their
business and families are not kept
iu touch with home life ms they
should he. letters and papers
from home renew the home ties
and oftentime~ prevent yielding
tn temptation to drink and ina~
morality.
RECOMMEND sTTONS.
T. 1t - recommended that the
standard adopted by Congress In
the passage of the law prohibiting
the sale Of iutoxieants to sol
tiirrs and sailors in uniform and
the practice Of prostitution I'm the
zone of the military and naval
camps bt maintained for our SOL
,ticrs and sailors when they leave
the United States. General order,
Ne. -. should ne strengthened nj
once by striking out the excmp-
tiou ~ to light wines and beer.
and prohibiting the purCha 80.
possession. or acceptance as
Gift of all kinds Of Intoxicating
liquor IL should also be made
applicable to the navy as well as
tho arnny The sweeping order
OF General Scott for the bordeaux
Base, which prohibits any officer
or man TO he in the company of
woman of immoral character.
on the street, In cafe. or In any
room or house of designation or
prostitution, should he extended
10 apply 10 all American soldiers
and sailors. The violation of this
order should subject the offender
TO court martial and punishment
as is provided I'm General order.
No. ~. and officers should he
given to understand that they viii
he held responsible for the strict
enforcement OF this order.
sIautd 1s, hnStf n ION
and no delay In issuing this order
and in passing this legislation, for
the prompt taking OF such action
viii prevent the formation of
wine-drinking habits by Amerf-
can soldiers and sailors. and the
purchase of strong liquors under
the cloak of the wine bottle. and
would result in sttu greater re-
duCtion i'm sexual vice.
=. Ii Is recommended that the
american government, either
through the Department of State.
or through the Military and Naval
authorities. request the govern
ments of Great Britain and
France to issue an order prohi-
biting the sale of intoxicants by
residents OF those countries to
American soldiers and sailors in
uniform I'm Difference to the
standards concerning intoxicants
and prostitution established by
the United States for its Army
and Navy, and recently empha-
sized In statement made by GEN
eral PerShing in which he said !:
Prom the military point of view
we cannot tolerate alcohol among
our soldiers. War Is merciless
men must be competent: the
drinking man makes a bad sol
der. The army won't stand al
cohol because 1t must conserve Its
man-powcr."
). Ii Is recommended that the
Secretary OF War and the Secre-
tary of the Navy unite I'm a joint
statement to the American people,
emphasizing In tho strongest pos
siblt way the great and benefi-
Client work which is being done
by the Y. NJ. G. A.. the ". VIC. A..
and the Red Cross I'm Europe
not only In furnishing physical
comforts and social pleasures. but
In Strengthening the moral fibre
of the men. and assisting them &c
resist solicitations to vice and in.
temperance. Every proper '-stim.
illus should bc given TO secure
the subscriptions by our people O
whatever sum may be neccssar,
to maintnin the work of such or.
CARNATIONS In full vigor. enabling
them to send to Europe a force OF
men and women. adapted to Per
form the services OF inspiration
unfit and uracetc0l hclpfu1ueas
which has already counted for sc
much In the lives OF our men II
the training camps, and which |,