AMERICA AND THE DRINK PROBLEM.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."
you kindly permit me to direct attention to the new relation to the Drink question in which we shall scon find our- selves through the entrance of America into the war? The American Navy is "dry," and I am sure no "wet" canteens will be tolerated in American Army camps in Europe. Many of the men of that Army will come from "dry" territories, and I fully expect that the American Government will soon adopt national Prohibition as a war measure of economy and efficiency. While we, at home, have paid little official regard to the fact that our British oversee brothers have come from lands largely under Prohibition law, and while we have permitted them to come into touch with drinking institutions and customs which they escaped in their own lands, are we going to treat with the same disregard the feelings and habits of our American cousins from the land of the Stars and Stripes? The Kaiser said, about five years ago, that the next great campaign would be fought on nerves, and that the total-abstaining Army would come out on top. While drinking among our soldiers when in camp is not so very serious as is generally supposed, yet we are far from having a total-abstaining Army. I believe America will send a practically total-abstaining Army to Europe. If the American soldiers drink or become drunk while on this side of the ocean, we may be sure they will not do so through alcohol provided for them by their own authorities. Are we going to be the meanie of inducing American soldiers to become drinkers through their "palhood " with our men?
As alcohol was ousted from the United States Pharmacopoeia on January 1st, 1916, we may be sure no "rum ration" will be given to American men at the front. It will be an everlasting shame and reproach to our Army Administration if, when the war is over, it can be said that America sent over her sons and "led them not into temptation," while Britain led her sons into temptation. In my work among our soldiers I find many of them refuse to take the total abstinence pledge because they believe they will be expected to take the "rum ration" at the
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