AN APPEAL TO THE STRONG.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2720, 15 March 1916, Page 7

AN APPEAL TO THE STRONG.

Sir,—A great deal has been said and written regarding the use- of alcohol Lby some of our soldier men. It is not always the fault of the soldier himself, rather it-is the falso patriotism of civilians toy pressing drink upon a soldier, and the pity is the soldier suffers, and the civilian is not known in the matter, when fery-often he is the real culprit. It is not a question of license or no-license, but Russia, France, and all the _ highest military 'and civilian authorities recognise. alcohol is a menace to our Bolaiers, i.e., causing some of them to dishonour their uniform and also _ impairing the effectiveness of our armies. _ _ These , are strenuous days, and it is most necessary that all should bo fully alert to overthrow the enemy, /keep Britain's Flag (symbolic of Freedom) flying, and above all to prove that the gallant men now in Eternity have not died in. vain. Soldiers 1 I may appeal to you to be true to_ yourselves, to determine that you will not allow yourselves to be degraded by this abuse of alcohol. , It is because your country, and. people hold you in such high esteem, reposing such confidence In you, that when 6ome of you are noted unsteady and acting in a wayopposite to what the name soldier embodies, i.e., strength, chivalry, uprightness, we, as a people, are disturbed j and.it could be arrested by just asserting your manhood, and saying no to the tempter-rdrink. Thank God there are the many who can and do say no to the tempter, and to you strong soldier-men we say be doubly strong' in these matters, thus strengthening your weaker comrades. Over all that is base and inuMral let the grand spirit, of Anza": prevail, even as it did at Gallipoli. May I pass on to you Captain Bean's words when writing of the spirit of Anzac? —

"The weaker men are swept on by the stronger.- • -A' good part'of the men in any force always go into action with their minds ready

to be mads up for them 'by the will of' the man next door. _ They .wouldl not realise it, _ even if you ' told'them so; but it is a palpable fact, especially in the case of a proportion "of the ' younger men. Their will is not. really in their own bodies, but in the body of the man next to them—or- the nearest strong man whobver he happens to he—and they will do as ne does. If he goes on, they will go on, if he drops," tliey are apt to become confused. The valuable man is that ■ strong, independent-willed man, who in the case of these troops constitutes a big proposition, fortunately, and who will go on till his job. is finished, what- ' ever'the man beside him may do." That the above i 6 true not only in' war must be admitted. So you of the brave independent will can influence your ; weaker comrades against the evil of the- drink temptation. Let the spirit of' 'Anzac prevail, then truly the soldiers will all walk with steady steps, head erect, truly conquerors. _ He who conquers himself will rievor fail; to conquer an outside enemy.—l am, etc., A SOLDIER'S GIRL.