SOLDIERS AND DRINK

Evening Star, Issue 16050, 29 February 1916, Page 8

SOLDIERS AND DRINK

[Special to the ‘Star.’] WELLINGTON, February 29. The demand for, the early closing of hotels during the war period seems to have had its origin, as far as Wellington is concerned, in the belief of certain 'ladies that soldiers take too much strong drink. Other arguments, such as the need for national self-sacrifice and the prevention of wasteful expenditure, have been advanced in support of the movement, but the protection of young soldiers has been the real text of most of the speeches on the subject. Without entering into the merits of the controversy, one may say confidently that the soldiers who drink lo excess are in a very small minority indeed. Persons who are in search of exact information on this point have merely to place themselves outside Lambkin station between 10 and 11 p.m. and see the men who have been on leave for the evening boarding the train that is to take them back to Trentham. There may be a few dozen men who show the effects of liquor out of 600 or 800 soldiers. .Little additional investigation will show that tho. men who are “under the influence” clkl not acquire their drinking habits in camp. Cases of drunkenness among the more youthful soldiers are, in the experience of your correspondent, very rare indeed. The standard of conduct in the camps is high, and tho feeling of esprit de corps is strong. Tho young soldier finds plenty of older companions ready, to see that he behaves himself. This ‘should be said for the comfort of tho mothers who have given their best to the nation.