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Show GREAT CURSE OF AMERICAN ARMY Baltimore, Oct. 3. Col. L. M. Maus, U. S. A. medical corps, told the convention of tho Association of Military Surgeons bore today that repeated Investigation had failed to roveal a stnglo benoflt from tho uso of alcohol. On tho contrnry, ho added, add-ed, it lessens tho ability and resls-tenco resls-tenco of army men in every line. The uso of alcoholic stimulants ho maintained, had no placo In the army or navy either as a medlclno or a regalement, re-galement, and ho said that Its use sb uld bo barred by law. Enumerating what ho said were the important psychological and pathological pa-thological effects of the uso of alcohol, alco-hol, Col. Maus nverred that It "has been tho cause ot countless unjust court martial sentences against officers offi-cers and men, ot harsh official dec!-rlons dec!-rlons and discriminations In assignments assign-ments of hopeless aspirations and Tu'ned careers: that It causes sickness, sick-ness, Impairs health and usefulness, adds greatly to tho non-ef&clency ot both officers and men, adds additional addition-al burden and coat to tho medical department, deprirves the government of otherwise valuable officers and enlisted men and forces them on the lotlred or pension list with corresponding corres-ponding lncreaso of government ox-rcadlturos. ox-rcadlturos. "I-ractlcally all tho crimes in tho army can bo directly traced to tho uso ot alcohol. Most ot tho murders suicides, robberies, courts martial and dismissals of officers defalcation and peculations, duplications ot pay ncc ounts, prison and guard houso sentences sen-tences ot enlisted men, desertions, voncreal diseases and Insanity are duo to tho uso ot alcoholic beverag-er beverag-er " Ho charged that directly or Indirectly Indi-rectly tho prcsont mothod of recruitment recruit-ment is responsible for a largo class of undesirables In tho army, who ho said, "aro gnthered from tho slums of cui largo cities, mainly through tho Incompetency of undlscrlmlitating and drinking recruiting parties, "Should the enlistment of this el. as and tho uso of alcoholic drinks bo intordicted, tho sick rate of tho nrmy would bo reduced CO per cent nnd its ofTlclency correspondingly in-(.rented. |
