General Orders Number 11 from Colonel H. S. Hawkins

Herdquarters 35th Division American Ixpeditiohary Forces 21st Jenuary 1919. GENERAL ORDERS ) 82.8 ) No. 11 ) The attention of all members of this command is once more directed to the question of venereal diseases, and partic- ularly to the following telegrams from the Commander-in-Chief and the Commanding General of the Second AIry. The increased opportunities for sexual indulgence which arise from the longer stay of our units in their billets, and the graduel return of the civil population, prosont a situation that can only be combated by the continued efforts of officers of all grades. These officers themselves must set for their men examples of marked sobriet ty and continence. The men must be kept adequately employed during the day to absorb their excess of physical energy. and the ingenuity of their commanding officers must be exercised to fill their evenings with wholesome cunusement. Loeal police units must be so organized that not only the recognized houses of prostitution will be kept strictly off but that, with the cooperation of the French authorities, the civil regulations covering un- licensed solicitation will be rigidly enforced. mho necessary steps will be teken to insure that all Ao E. Fo orders governing veneroal disenses are fully understood, and all infractions, whether by officers or enlisted men, will be severely dealt with. It should be made clear that no man will be taken home so long as he is infected, Nothing could so quickly overshadow the splendid military achievements of this division as a letting down in its moral standards, and this must not take place. "HASP 1/18/19. Commanding General, 35th Division, ARCHIVES AND CRECORDS "NATIONAL SERVICE' Commercy. M-134. Following telegram sent Chief Surgeon, Tours, quoted for your information and guidance - TThe number of noneffectives due to venereal diseases seems gradually to be growinge I dannot understand the recson for this and wish every possible effort made to decrease the percentage instead of al- lowing it to increase. The line officers have been directed to make the most persistent endeavor to pre- vent these diseases. The immoral side of the question should be very strongly impressed upon our officers and men. A concerted campaign is being made by ell concerned in order to maintain the high moral tone of our army up to the vory last minute. Chief Surgeon A. E. it diro eted to call upon his experts and upon Medical Corps to exert their utmost energies in co- operation with their associates in the Chaplains (over)