The N. Z. Times FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1908. MILITARY CANTEENS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6491, 10 April 1908, Page 4

The N. Z. Times

FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1908. MILITARY CANTEENS

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The Rev. Mr Isitt,. of the New Zealand Alliance for the abolition of the liquor traffic, in his zeal for its suppression, is exceedingly unkind to a largo body of men, the majority of whom are decent citizens. Speaking about canteens in military camps, Mr Isitt said he had been told by a chaplain of the forces that this chaplain was terribly distressed at the effect* of the canteens on soldiers in Africa during the war. It is obvious that this chaplain, whoever he may be, knows as little about the matter as Mr Isitt appears to know. It is emphatically not true that New Zealanders returned to this country demoralised by the canteens in the field —simply because there were no canteens, except with the Natal field force under General Sir Redvers Buller, V-0. It was a matter of extreme difficulty for a soldier during that war to obtain any liquor other than the " gill of rum ” issued as a ration after a particularly hard day’s trek or a more than usually tough skirmish. Every hotel in the area under martial law was not only pioqueted by sol- i diers, but was controlled by the military authorities. On every one of these bars there was m order posted that no soldier was to be served with sloo-i holic liquor. Officers could obtain what liquor they desired, and an officer might under very unusual eircum-i stances indeed obtain Honor for a non- ! commissioned officer. This was, in- 1 deed, rare. At base camps out of the arena of war, where troops returning to their homes m&ht net for a day

or two, there were certainly canteens,] under the strictest supervision. No: soldier was allowed to enter such a canteen unless accompanied by a noncommissioned officer. The guard was called out should a soldier show any signs of intoxication, and ho would he made a prisoner. It is one of tho greatest crimes in the military category to be “ drunk in the face of the enemy,” and no soldier was ever drunk in Africa unless—(l) He had stolen tho liquor (which was a crimeof great enormity, seeing that he wai robbing bis mates of their rations); (2) he had bought it from some person who had a stock unknown to the military authorities; or (3) ho had looted it from the enemy. There are certainly a few ox-soldiers in New Zealand who became demoralised after they returned. The campaign was arduous—much more arduous than Mr Xsitt suspects, It not only had a physically deteriorating effect on some men, but also a mentally deteriorating effect, and hence may have paved the way for insobriety on return. Tho oommandsr-in-ohiet of the army in Africa was, and is, a temperance man. Ho hated the effects of drink as much as Mir Isitt does, and he kept the men in tho field working too hard to permit of the debauches they have since been credited with by people who know nothing at all of the matter, having heard stories from persons who apparently have the same amount of knowledge. It is a oruel slander on tho New Zealanders who went to Africa to have it alleged j against them after eight years that they were demoralised' by the field can-1 teens in Africa. Few New Zealanders were in Natal, and that was the only portion of the arena of war where there was a field canteen of any kind.