A Mead Project clipping page

Originally published as:

New York Times. "Health Zones For Camps." New York Times 7 May 1917: 2.

New York Times

HEALTH ZONES FOR CAMPS.
Army to Ban Liquor and Otherwise Protect the Soldiers.

Washington, May 6. — As a strict war measure, the Council of National Defense has taken decisive steps for the hygienic and mental welfare of the soldiers and sailors of the nation. It has struck at the presence of infectious diseases and at alcoholism in all military commands.

Guided by the General Medical Board, the decisions of the council are these: First, that under military control an effective zone shall be created about all military commands as the most practicable and effective measure to prevent disease. Second, that these military zones shall serve also as a means of control of alcoholic beverages to the troops. These decisions are reached by the council after an exhaustive study of conditions today among European armies.

Zones about the military commands will, therefore, be created, and conditions in these zones will be guarded by military measures. The council also recommends, as a further solution of the problem, that all military commands be provided with good facilities for the recreation of the troops. It urges that all suitable athletics be encouraged. The use of alcoholic beverages on the part of soldiers and sailors in military commands has long been under military control. But the creation now of these military zones will in effect extend such control over the troops when they are off duty out of the commands.

"To face these ugly facts in an unflinching and no half-hearted fashion," said Dr. Franklin H. Martin, member of the Advisory Commission of the Council of National Defense, "makes for the fighting power of the nation. But our troops are inseparably a part of our civil life, and a clean, wholesome, temperate life among these troops will in the end make for our civil advancement, compared to which the cost of the war is nothing. The whole nation is indebted to the General Medical Board for its thoroughgoing research and for its definite recommendations in the matter of real protection to our boys."

 

 

©2007 The Mead Project.

 

The original published version of this document is in the public domain. The Mead Project exercises no copyrights over the original text.

 

This page and related Mead Project pages constitute the personal web-site of Dr. Lloyd Gordon Ward (retired), who is responsible for its content. Although the Mead Project continues to be presented through the generosity of Brock University, the contents of this page do not reflect the opinion of Brock University. Brock University is not responsible for its content.

 

Fair Use Statement:

 

Scholars are permitted to reproduce this material for personal use.  Instructors are permitted to reproduce this material for educational use by their students.

Otherwise, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, for the purpose of profit or personal benefit, without written permission from the Mead Project. Permission is granted for inclusion of the electronic text of these pages, and their related images in any index that provides free access to its listed documents.

 

The Mead Project, c/o Dr. Lloyd Gordon Ward, 44 Charles Street West, Apt. 4501, Toronto Ontario Canada M4Y 1R8