CANTEENS AT CAMPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 10

CANTEENS AT CAMPS

A CHAPLAIN'S TRIBUTE. "I don’t Relieve in these scare statemen,fcs about the demoralisation of troops through the canteens in Africa," said a chaplain who saw service with one of the biggest regiments of New Zealanders in Africa during the war. “The fact is people desiring to make slanderous statements must have a victim, and they have seized on Colonel Bauchop, who,, is merely'doing what the regulations provide. I saw very little drunkenness in the field at all, and then most of it was the drunkenness of officers, who'were the only people who had free access to the Army Service supply. . ... "I resent exceedingly the imputation that New Zealand soldiers were drunken men. The worst offenders were those few officers who were not equal in sqcial standing to the men they commanded, and who, when opportunity occurred, frequently made beasts of themselves. There were no canteens available for soldiers. If soldiers had a supply thccy got it from officers. The ’tot of rum’ was a bcndiction to the troops. It heartened them up and was fairly won. If that 'tot’ demoralised the troops—well I’m demoralised too. Ido not know any soldier, -who being a decent man before he went to Africa, has ’gone to pot’ since because of Africa, but i know a good many who were not decent men before, who were not decent men there, and who are still not decent men now. In Africa I never saw a drunken soldier. ’ The laws in regard to liquor were very stringent indeed as far as the rank and file were concerned. I Imow that Army Service men were very tempted ■ men, and that they frequently traded, in Govsupplifte, including liquor." An officer who served with most of the contingents during the war, interviewed last night, said that the only possible way that drink could get to the troops in greater quantities than by the usual and ■ infrequent "ration" was by the officers. They’ were able in some oases by underhand methods to obtain whisky for thirty shillings a case (army supply), and retailed it at .€5 a case to civilians who were under martial law. Soldiers might obtain it also at the price, “but/’ said the officer, "who ever , heard of soldiers giving £5 a case for .whisky? They were infinitely more sober in Africa than they are in any town of considerable size, and you will remember that there were masses of troops together who would fill a largo town. And they were all men."

PEESB ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH. April 10. The officer commanding the district, after consulting the officers of the "red" and “blue” forces, has decided to have canteens at the Easter manoeuvres. DUiSidlJlN, April 10. At the Easter volunteer manoeuvres in Otago a * "dry” canteen will be installed, which means that no intoxicating liquor will be supplied from it.