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APPENDIX.

[Extracts from reports of officers of the corps.]

POST EXCHANGE.

Colonel Burton (Cuba) says:

They have been a great comfort to the troops, notwithstanding the adverse criticism of the change wrought by recent legislation in dispensing with the sale of beer.

Major Tutherly (Columbia) says:

I think it is being demonstrated that if the present exchange regulations are carried out with the same business energy that was exercised when the sale of beer was authorized, the exchange will serve a better purpose than the old regulation provided. Not only should the sale of intoxicants be prohibited on Government reservations and transports, but also gambling, and I think that paragraph 672, Army Regulations, relating to gambling by disbursing officers should be strictly enforced. If either officers or men gamble outside, it is probably not advisable to take cognizance of it, but in a post or upon a transport it is highly demoralizing, and from a business standpoint it should be prohibited.

Major Reynolds (Dakota) says:

I am inclined to the opinion that the abolition of the beer feature in post exchanges has not materially increased the number of trials by courts, nor called for other extra disciplinary measures. As for the post exchanges, they are fulfilling their purpose and making money.

Major West (Fifth Separate Brigade, Philippine Islands) says:

The canteen has not been in operation since I have been in the Philippines, so I have no means of judging the effect of its abolishment here. Beer is sold for 20 cents a bottle here, and the same beer is sold for 10 cents in the United States; wine is not drunk much by soldiers in any country. There is some drinking of "tube" and "bino." They are vile liquors. The former produces dysentery and the latter insanity. There is no opium smoking among soldiers of consequence. To avoid these habits being fastened on the American troops, short-term service here is the most effective remedy.

Major Irons (Colorado) says:

The regulations for post exchanges need revision, especially as to the amounts to be paid on entrance, the amounts due them on dividends, and amounts due on withdrawal.

At one post in this department several organizations joined the post exchange, taking the actual strength of companies at date of entrance, as specified in paragraph 19, post-exchange regulations. Upon withdrawal they desired the same strength to

be considered as upon entrance, though each of the organizations had lost by discharges about 40 men. It was claimed that the organizations had joined on a basis of actual strength and should go out on a basis of actual strength.

To avoid any such trouble and to allow the representatives of organizations (who are personally responsible for debts, etc., due by exchanges) to manage the business, I would suggest that a paragraph be inserted that would allow of this liberty, and yet would prevent disagreements such as mentioned above.

The paragraph might read as follows:

"The representatives of organizations establishing a post exchange will make agreements as to method of entrance and method of withdrawal, and also as to method of divisions of dividends.

"Any new organizations desiring entrance to an established exchange will abide by these agreements, or, if all owners are willing, will make such agreements as they deem just and equitable.'

Major Eastman (Fourth Separate Brigade, Philippine Islands) says:

“Effect of abolishing the canteen:" It drives the soldier to the outside saloon and dive. When his money is all gone, he then takes to drinking vino and other native drinks, and that is fatal to his efficiency as a soldier. He is soon dead or dishonorably discharged.

Colonel Sanger (Division of the Philippines) says:

Notwithstanding the large number of stations and troops there has not been, as far as known, a single post exchange in the division. During the year small confectionery shops have been established in fifteen companies for the sale of pies, cakes, cigars, cigarettes, soda water, etc., and it is presumed they have contributed somewhat to the comfort of the men. The only reason given for not opening post exchanges generally is the prohibition on the sale of beer, or in other words the abolition of the canteen, which, as it was the chief source of revenue of the exchange, is indispensable to its maintenance, at least in the Philippine Islands. Congress having disposed of this question it seems hardly worth while to discuss it further. Still as we are not without hope that once the social and professional condition of our soldiers in the Philippines is thoroughly appreciated at home, Congress may be induced to again make the post exchange a possibility by removing all restrictions on the sale of beer and light wines, the following facts are presented:

With the termination of organized opposition to the Government military operations have also ceased in the Philippines, and from a life of great activity and excitement, the enlisted men in a large majority of stations have entered on a life more or less sedentary and only relieved by such professional exercises as the routine of a garrison life renders necessary, mainly guard duty and drill.

From the monotony of this existence there is no possible escape in 90 posts out of a 100, and the enlisted man becomes in a far greater degeee than in the States the absolute victim of his environment. This it is needless to say is not conducive to any great display of the more exalted virtues. Rendered more or less indifferent by the climate, deprived of pleasant or exciting recreations, amusements, or sport, and without the means of obtaining them, lacking frequent and regular communication with the outside world, the social life of our soldiers in the Philippines, except in a few places, is absolutely without attraction, and as a result they consort more or less with the natives and soon adopt some of their habits, with no resulting benefit to the natives or to themselves. It is not necessary to go into particulars; to the average person of intelligence who has visited the Philippines they are very well known; they confront the soldier at all times in what to him seems a very attractive form, and he yields to their influence, because there is no alternative, save the deadly monotony of some dilapidated convent or nipa barracks, devoid of everything except the habiliments of his profession. It is idle to speculate on this subject, or to say what he ought to be; the American soldier requires a healthful outlet for his superabundant energies, or he will find one of a different kind, and all officers who are responsible for his discipline and training should endeaver to protect him as far as possible against the loss of those habits of self-respect which have made him well-nigh invincible in battle and won for hin the admiration of the world.

Until quite recently the post exchange with its well-regulated canteen has been one of the instrumentalities through which this has been attempted, and if, as is believed, it has exercised a wholesome influence on our soldiers at home, in the Philippine Islands it would no doubt prove to be a mental, moral, and physical benefaction.

There is no fear that the sale of beer would initiate or induce habits of intemperance, as the following facts obtained directly from the companies serving in the division, December 18 (1901), will show; nor can the post exchange be maintained without it:

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From these figures it is quite apparent that a very large proportion of the men used stimulants when enlisted, and have used them in moderation since, and this is probably the case throughout the Army.

On the other hand, quite a number habitually drink to excess, and this number will probably increase if the men are obliged to resort to native liquors in order to satisfy what to many of them is a perfectly natural craving. Such a result would be most deplorable, as is evident from the following report on this subject prepared by Maj. Charles Lynch, of the Medical Department, who from his long and varied service in the Philippines may be considered a most competent judge:

"The most used of these drinks is "vino" or "beno," as it is more commonly called. This is usually made from "tuba," which is the juice obtained from the buds, unripe fruit of the nipa palm. "Tuba" contains a small proportion of alcohol, is not unwholesome, and resembles somewhat the pulque of Mexico. Like that liquor, it rapidly undergoes an acid fermentation, and can only be drunk or utilized for the production of "vino" soon after collection. For this reason distilleries are established in districts where the nipa palm grows, though redistillation is carried on in Manila and other large cities.

"The primary distillation is performed in a very simple still, consisting of nothing more than a boiler and worm; in order to obtain the greatest amount of "vino" from the "tuba," a hot fire is made under this boiler, and the worm is short. Distilling in this manner, not only the various alcohols are carried over, but also water, so that the resulting distillation contains not more than 20 per cent of alcohol. This alcohol consists of ethylic alcohol, which is the alcohol in good liquors, but in addition, methyl alcohol, amylic alcohol or fusel oil, and furforol, with other alcohols in less quantities.

"In certain places where "nipa" does not grow, "vino" is made from sugar, or it may be made from cocoanut juice; practically the same process is adopted, and the resulting liquor is little, if any better.

"When the impure "vino" is redistilled, a better liquor may be made; that is, a mixture of vino containing better alcohol and water is produced. It is impossible to make good liquor,. nor is any attempt made commercially to produce a very good mixture. "Vino" is drunk as it comes from the still, or anise may be added to produce anisado. Some mallorca and carbachal are also made; these two are sweet liquors, but do not vary in their pernicious properties from "vino;" they are hardly known to the soldier.

"In Manila "vino" is also used mixed with the extract of juniper to make gin, with the extract of rum to make rum, with the extract of whisky for whisky. All are equally injurious, as they contain in large quantities alcohols other than ethylic alcohol.

"The effect of drinking any of these liquors is much worse than from liquors containing ethylic alcohol. The pleasant effects of good liquors are produced in great part by the various ethers and esters, which only result from the aging of the liquors or some of the well-known processes that produce similar changes. Intoxication is also different from that produced by good liquor in that in many instances a maniacal excitement results even with homicidal or suicidal tendencies. The after depression is much more severe than from ethylic alcohol, and has undoubtedly resulted in cases of melancholia. In-some respects repeated indulgence has an effect more like morphine than alcoholic intemperance, the drinker seeming to lose all sense of responsibility and decency; habitual indulgence is also unquestionably followed by insanity in predisposed cases.

"The effects on the physical condition of the drinkers are severe, usually inducing inflammation of the stomach and cirrhotic changes in the liver and kidneys.

"There is some difference of opinion as to whether men having become habituated to this vice prefer “vino” to beer or other liquors. In my own opinion the reason that they continue to drink "vino" is its cheapness, from 5 to 13 cents, Mexican, a quart, and it is believed that if beer was supplied at a moderate price, not only soldiers would not acquire this practice, but having acquired it, would generally abandon it for the use of milder and less harmful malt liquor."

The average charge for a bottle of beer throughout the provinces is 50 cents, Mexican, and, like most of the beverages manufactured in the Philippine Islands, beer is very much adulterated.

Since June 30, 1900, 307 enlisted men have been sent home insane, and Major Arthur, surgeon in charge of the first reserve hospital, Manila, where they have all been under observation and treatment, reports that 78, or 25.4 per cent, were insane from the excessive use of alcoholic liquors.

The habit of opium smoking among our soldiers has also been reported.

It is hardly probable, in view of this information, that Congress will continue the prohibition against the canteen, when it is evident that the sale of beer would be a protection against such pernicious habits and their fatal and distressing results.

Captain Erwin (Missouri) says:

At all posts in the Department both officers and men desire that beer be again sold in the post exchange, to the betterment of the soldier's fare, and furnishing him a club where, under proper restrictions, the soldier can get beer.

REPORT OF THE JUDGE-ADVOCATE

GENERAL.

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