The humble German, the perpetual beer drinker, who had always looked upon wine as a privilege of the rich, could now open up casks with blows from his weapons, even bathing his feet in the stream of precious liquid.

Every battalion left as a souvenir of its passing a wake of empty bottles; a halt in camp sowed the land with glass cylinders.

The regimental trucks, unable to renew their stores of provisions, were accustomed to seize the wine in all the towns.

The soldier, lacking bread, would receive alcohol.

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