mmediately checked by every right-minded man in authority.

During the whole of my experience in Flanders, I did not come across
one case of drunkenness; my experience may be peculiar, but I do not
think so. To begin with, there is, of course, the very strong deterrent
of rigid punishment for such an offence. Again, there are not the
facilities for the purchase of strong drink, such as unhappily
characterizes the condition of affairs in Great Britain; but away and
beyond these preventives lies the fact that every man is imbued with the
idea that he must keep himself fit and 'play the game,' and the result
is that at the Front to-day we have a sober army. I cannot too strongly
warn the men who are at home, preparing for the Front, to watch
themselves closely in this respect, and for the following reasons:--

(a) A man who drinks renders himself physically unfit for the
tremendous strain involved by a campaign. A short time ago
I was travelling in France, from General Head-quarters to
Bailleul, and riding past a certain Brigade which had
landed two days prior, I was struck with the very
considerable portion of men who had fallen out on the
march. This was partly due to the very painful process of
marching over cobbled stones to which they were new, but I
knew full well that it was also attributable to the fact of
the soft condition which some of the foolish fellows were
in, through the unwise use of stimulants in the near past.

(b) Sobriety is an absolute essential, for again and again the
security of a Platoon, a Company, a Battalion, a Brigade, or
even of Division, may depend upon the alertness of a
sentinel.

We observe, therefore, the urgent importance of a man placed in so
responsible a position being in the fullest possession of his powers of
mind and body; therefore, I say with emphasis, and I say it to every man
going out, keep clear of the drink.

One cannot fail to be struck with the supineness of certain Generals
who, possessing the power of placing public houses out of bounds,
excepting for one hour morning and evening, yet allow the men under
their command to soak in bar parlours for hours at a time. There are
magnificent exceptions to this, and all honour to those Divisional
Commanders who have taken the trouble to ascertain the conditions of
social life under which their men exist when off duty, and who make
adequate pr