The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1915. WET CANTEEN.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 245, 18 November 1915, Page 9

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1915. WET CANTEEN.

There is great regret felt in Canada and rna< h indignation expressed at the action of the Home Government in allowing’ the wet canteen to be introduced into the English camp of the Canadian soldiers. The mothers and wives of Canada are presenting a petition to the Canadian Government begging them to obtain an assurance from the War Office that the wet canteen will not be permitted in the ranks of the Canadian troops when they send forward more contingents. The mothers point out that what thev want to do is to make the encampment, which is the Soldiers’ Home, a >afe t place for the thousands of bovs who have never touched liquor, to orevent the treating habit from

dragging these young recruits into the toils of the drink habit. The Canadian Minister of Militia promised the mothers of Canada that their boys should not be subjected to the temptation of the wet canteen, and that he would guarantee they would “return home as clean and as manly as they went." On this definite understanding many mothers allowed their bovs to go. We can understand their grief and indignation when, as soon as the first contingent crossed the water, General Alderson introduced the poison which the mothers dreaded far more than the German bullet.

Is the British Government so contemptibly weak that it dare not offend the brewers? In spite of the example of the King, of the protests of Kitchener, of the complaints of Lloyd George that manufacture of munitions were delayed, and the efficiency of soldiers destroyed by strong drink ; in spite of the assurances of responsible officers that transit of troops is delayed by drunken firemen, though the Government is spending time and thought to do away with the effect of drink on the men, they will not forbid the sale of liquor. The brewer and liquor-seller are allowed to go on their wav selling their deadly poison, and proving themselves Germany’s best allv. Will our White Ribboners here join with those of Canada and all parts of the Kmpire, and pray daily that the Mother Country may have strength given her to conquer her greatest enemy, and that she may cease to act the temptress to the boys that the Dominions are sending to fight for the F.mpire.