WAR PLUS ALCOHOL

White Ribbon, Volume 50, Issue 7, 18 August 1944, Page 1

WAR PLUS ALCOHOL

Lloyd (»eorge, statesman, and (tenoral Jotfre, soldier and leader during World War 1, expressed the opinion that their nations were fighting two enemies—(ier* many and strong drink—and the latter was the grattest enemy.

But the .tations did not profit bv the lesson learnt during World War 1, and W orld War 11 finds us fighting the same twin evils.

Alcohol ha. proved the deadly enemy of our war effort. It has used shipping »l>ace wanted for loud and ammunition, it has dulled the brains of soldiers and leaders and made men unfit for duty.

\\c give her; stories of its evil influence culled from otir overseas exd >anges. The Army that l ouyht on lea Christopher Buckley, war correspondent with the Eighth Army after April, l‘>4l, covering its Derations in every field, has this to sav in the "Daily Telegraph,” November 12:— "The most characteristic feature of the I he Eighth Army considered as a social organisation was undoubtedly the 'brewup.’ The Eighth Amy has fought on tea; for that matter, it seldom had the opportunity of getting anything else. Somehow, in most unpromising circumstances the British soldier could always conjure up his brewr of tea in an old biscuit can."

In the British House of Commons answers to criticism by supporters of the Liquor Trade, Colonel Tatlow, Middle East Chief, said that in Jairo no beer wav at that time (April, 19*13) being supplied to the Eighth Army on direct orders from General Montgomery Qwing to transport difficulties. “We have not a front line canteen service because bombs and bullets must comt first.”

So we know now that when the Allied forces were being driven back till they were over the Egyptian frontier and the Germans were in sight of Cairo, tran*I*ort was bung taken up by thousands of tons of beer But Cfcncral Montgomery

changed all that, because he hail no room for beer.—"Everybody* Monthly," Januarv, 1944.

Alcohol at I'earl Harbour

The House of Representatives Military Committee has issued a lengthy rejiort on the Pearl Harbour disaster. From this we cull an extract: —"Evidence also showed that Wyman (District Army Engineer) spent the night of the Pearl Harbour attack at Rohl’s home, after which he rushed to his office ir. civilian clothes in a drunken condition, ami changed into uniform in the presence of the office staff, shouting orders to everyone.”—The "West Australian.” June 16, 1944, Hussut 'protects Her Soldiers. Yalentia Ray Mitz, a naturalised Ukranian lecturer, the wife of a cadet at Foor Flying Field, at Arcadia, Florida, delivered a notable address at the Woman’s Gub, during whifh she made the following remarkable statement : "In Russia, if a woman offers a soldier liquor she has to serve six months in prison; if she gives it to him she is shot " "There can be no drinking by the soldiers while the war is on,” vhc declared, "for the men must be strong, healthy, and possesseil of every jvhit of their strength and ability."—From "Tenq<rance Review,” C anada Australian pai»ers tell alsu of munitions bring urgently wanted at the front, Imt the plane just leaving Brisbane refused to unload l»arrels of beer in order to take the munitions. • In Civil Life. Here, too, we can see the evil of strong drink. Will my readers watch their <lailv letters for the next month and answer these questions? L—How many of violence, assault fighting, come before the Court wheif alcoliol is not mentioned as a contributing ?.<rent?

2.—Cases in which the plea is put forward, "I’d had a drop of drink, hut wav not drunk"?

3. Cases in which i»o!ice have been resisted, or assaulted by men wlio have had no liquor? 4. —What |K*rcentagc of criminals before all our Courts are clased as absolute abstainers? We think the results would astonish many, and make them resolve LIQUOR MUST GO TO SAFEGUARD OUR PEOPLE, AND SAVE OUR NATION.