The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-31

Experienced commanding Off
GERS all over the country agreed
that considerably more than half
of the troops under them drank
nothing stronger than beer by
choice. and that many even abb
stained from beer. Chaplains.
with only one exception Sconcurred
in the opinion.
BEARS ONT SURVEY
This testimony bears out studies
made last summer by the army.
The research branch. special serv-
Ice division, services of supply.
war department, made carefully
controlled studies of enlisted men
In two combat divisions of ground
troops. These sampiings indicated
that 81 out Of every 100 men drank
nothing alcoholic even on satur-
day nights and paydays. Some 81
men out Of 100 drank only beer.
Nine drank hard liquor.
Similar samplings were taken
among two detachments Of Air
Corps troops. These indicated
that So of every 100 drank nothing
alcoholic. 81 drank beer, and IL
drank hard liquor. Sunday nights
and weekday nights produced an
even more orderly army-some 73
out Of 100 of both groups drank
nothing at all except on Saturdays.
To the various observers in the
Office Of War Information this
last figure seemed. in light of their
explorations in the field, a little
optimistic. The army didn't APP
pear quite that orderly and con-
tanned. Probably it isn't
This is a civilian army. as
selective service army must be.
Men do not change character when
they put on a uniform. II they
drank as civilians. they will prob
ably drink as soldiers-but prob
ably not 30 much. II they found
their fun in tawdry places as
civilians. they will hunt out the
tawdry places as soldiers.
Particularly in large cities,
troops tend TO seek their own level
of amusement.
Because selective service Is a
lottery, it produces an army which
IL nothing less than a cross-section
Of the civilian population. Such
an army Is certain to enroll small
percentage of delinquents. even
actual criminals. These men are
q police problem to the military
just as. in peace-time. they would
have been police problem to their
own communities.
HONEYMOON OF RUMOR
Wartime is the honeymoon of
rumor. The uprooting of settled
people. the necessary censorships
which conceal the movements of
troops. all the excitements and in
securities inevitable in a nation at
war. create n ready audience for
tall stories and sensational gossip.
The uniform is conspicuous. One
unruly delinquent in a CT. blouse.
a half-dozen prankish privates
tipsy with a few drinks and fur
Tough freedom, can start stories
which pyramided in telling. give
the impression to the honestly
gullible that service caroussls are
hampering our training for war.
Their h drinking In the
army. there will continue TO
be drinking In the army. The
approach Of the military au-
thorities to the problem Is not
prohibition. but control
1t - legal for a civilian to take
a drink in this country; it would
be discriminatory to deny the
same right 20 the soldier who has
rehnquished many privi-
leges the civilian considers his
rights.
TAKES VARIOUS FORMS
Control takes various forms En-
listed men and non-commissioned
officers may not possess hard
liquor on a government reservation
and this regulation is stringently
enforced. Commissioned officers
may. as a rule. drink at the OFF,
GERS club within prescribed hours;
stocks usually are kept in lockers
and purchases are made by the
CASE.
II is within the authority Il |.
post commander TO forbid II
liquor IN Officers clubs. ev
of beer in the POST .exchsngssIs
II ne sees fit. &c
To Be Continued