10
December 4,281 539 44 10
January 3,777 523 8 2

Take also these figures: in one body of 7,401 troops belonging to
various branches of the service, with an average of seven weeks in
France, only 56 prophylactic treatments were given, and only one case
of venereal disease developed; again, during two months in France, one
infantry regiment of 3,267 men had a record of only eleven prophylactic
treatments, and no case of disease. But perhaps the most effective
example of the efforts made by the American authorities to repress
prostitution in France occurred at Blois. American troops arrived at the
town in January, 1918. The brothels were at once placed out of bounds,
but, shortly afterward, and, owing to protestations on the part of the
French authorities,[132:1] the order was relaxed, in so far as one of
the brothels was taken over for the use of the American soldiers. Not
for long was this tolerated. On March 21, this brothel also was put out
of bounds. Strict repressive measures against prostitution and
street-walking were put in force; and repeated arrests--by the military
police--both of prostitutes and suspected prostitutes, succeeded in
almost ridding the town of this menace.

The result was very interesting. I will quote directly from the article
from which these facts are taken:

_Although politicians and the owners of cafes and brothels
continued to protest, the decent elements of the community
gradually changed from an attitude of skepticism, even of
hostility and resentment, to one of appreciation, commendation
and cooeperation. An official report from the Surgeon-General's
office on conditions in the town declared:_

"_It is evident that placing the houses at Blois out of bounds
has had a wonderful effect, not only in lowering the venereal
rate, but in improving the morality of the soldiers and also
of the civil population._"

Of course, these few figures and scattered facts cannot tell the whole
story; they do, however, indicate with sufficient clearness what may be
done by firm and fearless action.

V

Let me try to make the position clearer by means of another and quite
different illustration. The results of restrictions on the drink trade
in England during the war showed that legislative interference with
strict rules can do much more than many of us believed.[134:1] Wipe off
all that is dou