The Sentinel=record., 1914-08-23

| beneilt To the National Guard Working along the lines of getting
 the business man interested in the Ma. tional Guard the League began with | the Commercial organizations in | Washington and secured resolutions
 from thes organizations endorsing the l National Guard and recommending
 to the members of the organizations | that their employees be allowed two
 weeks vacation for National Guard camp duty annually in addition to tn Fir | regular vacations. This movement
 is now being extended to other cities
 where commercial organizations are being aroused to the necessity of
 aiding their local guardsmen in this
 manner.
 The League has consistently adyo- cated an adequate battleship and na- Val pro gram annually, and has done and is doing other work along the
 llnes of a common sense and neces- l sary policy for the national defense. Anybody can join the League. Pa triotic women are as much interested in the work as men. A branch can
 be organized anywhere by five Der sons. Any person can become mem
 Der at large. Particulars concerning the organization of branches or mem bership at large will be supplied on request to the Secretary, Nationai Defense League, District National Bank Building. Washington, D. c. The membership fee is only $2 per year, Heretofore few members have paid all the expenses of the organiza- tion.
 Some patriotic man or woman in this city is urged to start the move ment here for branch of the League. The League is anxious to establish d centre of influence in this city.
 Every European country has similar organizations, which explains in great measure, the thorough prepare1- ness for National defense of these countries. The German Naval League a.one has more than million mem bers. Even schoolboys belonging 10 the German organization.
 The National Defense League has now arrived at the point where it Is desirable to increase its membership aId the scope of it's activities for the nation, hence this appeal to all patri- otic citizens in this section.
 The movement to strengthen ahd increase the membership of the
 League Is especially timely in view
 of the startiing European situation, which has caused with a feeling of
 alarm, many persons in the United States who are aware of our present comparative defenselessness, to re- fleet on the possible fate of this coun-
 try in event of sudden war with first class power.
 The executive committee which | manages the affairs of the League iu- cudes Representative Julius Kahn, of | California, chairman; Representative | Robert r. Broussard, of Louisiana,
 vice-chairman Representative Ernest w. Roberts of Massachusetts; Hon.
 James II. Blount, of Georgia, general
 counsel: Winfield Jones, Washington,
 D. C., secretary.
 The board of director comprises Carson Taylor, Manila '. $. Senator
 John R. Thornton, Alexandria La; Gen. Charles W. Harris, Phoenix,
 Ariz.; Representative Joseph R..
 Knowland. Alameda, Cal; Represen- tative Julius Kahn. San Francisco, Cal; George II. Carr, Des Moines, Iowa; Representative Robert F. Broas- sard. New Iberia, La. Harold NJ. Pitt, Manila: Gen. Harvey C. Clark, Neya- da, Mo. James T, Stanford, Great Falls. Mont; Maj. D. J. Donohue, Glendive. Mont; Representative Er- nest w. Roberts, Chelsea, Mass; Col. Charles I DeBevoise, Brooklyn, N. Y; Maurice Simmons, New York City: Gen. C. H. Englesby, Water
 town. s. D.; Gen. O. C. Guessaz, San Antonio, Tex; Hon. James II. Blount' Macon. Ga; Winfield Jones, Washing
 ton, D. C.
 In statement for this paper, Chair
 man Kahn says:
 "The present war crisis ought to
 prove lesson to the people of the United States. It is an apt illustra- ton of the suddenness with which war comes. 1t should teach us that we
 must be prepared for any and every
 possible emergency. It "~oves the
 wisdom of those who favored and in sisted on the fertilization of the Pana- ma Canal, despite the protests of the so-called peace propagandists. The recollection that England seized the
 Suez Canal in 1882 and ciosed it for three days to tie vessels ef all nations and even those of the Suez Canal Co. itself, ought to have been sulii- eient argument in favor of fortiiica- ton. But we were told that the word Las advanced That our treaties would protect our waterway. Trea- ties, indeed, What has become of the neutrality treaties concerning Luxem- burg and Belgium. They have been broken as though they had been ropes