Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-24
Grog Rules
Confusing on
Service Men
West Coast Soldiers Put
on Hour Basis
BY DAMON RUNYON

BY DAMON RUNYON
I OS ANGELES. Jan. 3.-The
- army rule out here is that
soldiers in uniform may be
served beer and liquor in res
taurants and barrooms only be-
tween hours of 6 and 10 p. m,
but the navy has no such re-
strictions.
The sailors can buy their grog
at any time that il is permitted
10 be sold 10 civilians, and OF
course this goes for the marines,
too, as they come under the
jurisdiction of the navy.
The rule on soldiers applies to
officers in uniform as well as en-
listed men and a boniface Of our
acquaintance was embarrassed
no little the other evening when
he had TO deny a cocktail 10 a
fine looking army officer of
middle years who was dining
quietly with his wife, while a
few tables removed a deep sea
mariner was making a flagon OF
beer look silly.
We are unable 10 account for
this differentiation though we
doubt that il is because sailors
are believed to cargo more
liquor refreshment than soldiers
or chamber il better.
In fact. as an old soldier we
would be inclined 10 challenge
any such premise. We suspect
that il is just one OF those little
inconsistencies that invariably
develop when this nation rs in
the early stages OF getting itself
adjusted to the business OF war.
WE ARE told that similar con-
w fusion exists in the orders
that issue from the army and
the navy authorities 10 the
Pacific Coast newspapers on
what they can and cannot
publish.
The army says one thing. The
navy says another
Thus at times managing edi-
tors are seen poised on high
window hedges in she newspaper
Offices apparently considering
the step into space that would
end all their mortal worries that
has been so vastly increased by
the war.
OF course all these little ium-
bles will be Strengthened out
when the government censorship
begins operating under one head
and with one set Of machinery.
Things started out about the
same way in 1917.
As II is now, the newspaper
editors just try 10 obey all the
rules that hit them from the
different angles.
They are as anxious TO keep
information from their columns
that might he valuable 10 the
enemy as the army and the
navy are TO have il kept out.
Nothing appears in the local
newspapers about the movement
Of troops in this section.
The identity Of the outfits that
may be around here is also sup
posed 10 be a matter of great
secrecy. though the fact that
many of the soldiers wear their
divisional or reglmental insignia
would seem calculated 10 be
somewhat revealing if there are
any enemy spies around which
Is not unlikely
IN 1917 the Germans had a
Il complete espionage on our
troops movements IN this coun-
try AS was evidenced by tho
story Of an American soldier
who was captured in the Ar
gonnc and later escaped.
He said he was closely inter
rogated by German officers and
after lying manfully 10 them for
a couple of hours was informed
by them in detail of every ac-
tivity Of his command from the
time il left its training camp in
the United States until il went
into the line in France.
This soldier said the only
thing the Germans were wrong
on was the name OF his com
manding officer and he thought
that was probably because the
officer had been shifted to an
other command a short time
previously. There is every reason
10 assume that the Germans
may again be exercising the
same sort Of espionage and the
japanese. too.
The latter would naturally be-
deeply interested in anything
they could learn of the troop
movements in this quarter and
il bchooveS both soldiers and
civilians TO keep their traps
closed on this particular subject.
SIGNS are commencing to APP
~ pear in public places in Los
Angeles warning against Cabling
Of military matters and repeat
ing rumors. The other night we
saw a bartender quietly gesture
toward a placard on his back
bar that read briefly, mix
cracking" by way of admonish-
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