Alcohol in War.

White Ribbon, Volume 5, Issue 53, 1 November 1899, Page 9

Alcohol in War.

“ War’s Aftermath ” is the title of a paper contributed to the May Forum by Mr VV. K. Rose, Reuter’s correspondent in the Soudan campaign. After discussing many of the causes which make the after-results of war more fatal than battle itself, Mr Rose touches on alcoholism. He says:— Alcoholic drinks are, however, now eschewed by the best commanders. “Havelock’s saints” performed their heroic feats in marching and lighting in the Indian Mutiny on coffee alone as a beverage. In the Red River Expedition of 1870, under General Wolseley, no spirit ration was issued ; and certainly, says the Medical Report , no men could have enjoyed better health than the troops without it. Out of 710 men engaged only five were invalided. The old-fashioned rum ration was not issued in the Ashantee War of 1873, — which was also under the command of General Wolseley,—though a small “tot” was given to individuals, when specially prescribed by the medical officers. The result, as already pointed out, was that in the pestilential cli mate of the hinterland of the Gold Coast the total mortality from all causes was only 314 per cent, of the whole strength of the British troops. In the Kaffir War of 1877-78 rum as a ration was strictly prohibited, and the good health of the troops was attributed to enforc d abstinence from spirituous liquors. in the Soudan the Sirdar prohibited all alcoholic liquors. A consignment of several hundred barrels of beer sent by a speculative sutler from Cairo to NVady Haifa was quickly sent down the river. Some Greeks smuggled into Berber by caravan from Suakin a large supply of a concoction called Scotch whisky, but which it was said had been manufactured in Alexandria from pine and potato spirit, and which, when swallowed, would burn holes in the membrane of the throat. Hundreds of cases were seized by order of the COlll- - the bottles broken, and the vile liquor emptied on the thirsty sand. The prohibition caused very little grumbling, for even the men who were not voluntary total abstainers soon perceived that the destruction of the liquor was for their benefit. In the

early stages of thecampaign, what with constant drills and route inarches, General Gatacre brought his British Brigade into a condition “as fit as a fiddle.” Father Brindle and Revs. Messrs Simms and Watson, tlie army chaplains, told me that they did not recognize some of their “ lambs ” after a few weeks, so remarkable was their improved health from enforced abstinence and constant work. Of one thing I am sure—viz., that the mortality from fever and other diseases during the Atbara campaign, the midsummer camp at Darmali, and the final Omdurman campaign, w’ould have been infinitely greater than it was if alcoholic liquors had been allowed as a beverage, or even as an occasional ration.

“ Dutch courage ” is evidently at a discount in serious operations. —Re view of Reviews .