Mr. Justice Atkin, charging the Grand Jury at Bristol, said that in nearly every case where a soldier was tried in the Western Circuit the defence was drink. One lad of 18 was treated to eight pints of beer in two hours, and did not know what happened. That sort of thing, said the judge, must seriously impair the efficiency of the troops when sent to the Front. _Record of Bristol Assizes, Autumn 1914_ Two boys, 15 and 17, were fined for being drunk in munition works. One was discovered just in time to save him from carrying molten liquid. _Birmingham Munitions Tribunal, Dec. 1916_ “A boy joined the Royal Navy as a carpenter, living in barracks and working on shore. Every day he was given ‘grog’ for his rations, although he never asked for it and never took it.” _Facts in letter to the Author_ Such are the tragedies of boys handed over in our camps to drink and its temptations. What of the girls in our munition shops? They have learned to drink in thousands since the war began—respectable girls leaving home to go into munitions, respectable young wives alone at home. With no restraining hand upon them, with new companionships and pocket-money flowing freely, it is not surprising the temptation should be too strong for them. We can take only one or two cases. The girl-wife of a Cardiff seaman died in the street from exposure after drinking in publichouses with other girls. _Records of Pontypridd Coroner, December 27, 1916_ A publican at Lincoln was fined £5 for allowing children to be drunk on his premises. Ruth Onyon, 14, and Rose Herrick, 16, were found in his house with a soldier. They had been in five houses and had ten drinks each and reached home helplessly drunk. _Facts in “Sheffield Daily Telegraph,” Sept. 1, 1916_ A number of cartridge workers were summoned for taking drink into a munition works. One young woman was led to the surgery drunk at half-past four in the morning; another was discharged because she could not stand. Sixteen girls subscribed for four bottles of wine and whisky. _Records of Leeds Munitions Tribunal, April 28, 1916_ Two girls of 16 and 17 were fined for being helplessly drunk in an explosive works, the magistrates pointing out that their conduct imperilled the lives of other workers. _Records of Coventry Munitions Tribunal July 24, 1916_ The men and girls at a large armament works drank all night. Girls would lurch into the dormitory dead drunk at 2 a. m.; one lady was up till 4 a. m. letting in drunken girls. As a result of drunkenness there was an explosion at these works, two men being killed and six injured. _Facts in “Spectator,” Jan. 20, 1917_