Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1914-08-23
National Defense League Wants
United States Prepared

like Japan or Germany. II made sud
denly would find the United states
totally unprepared for the blow.
Disaster To the country would swiftly
follow such war--lOss OF territory,
seacoast cities bOmbarded, our mer-
chant marine swept from the seas,
loss OF Hawaii and the Philippines,
this Is the spectre which today may
loom large and terrifying ON the
horizon tomorrow.
The smallness OF the United
states army, compared 10 the great
armed hosts moving Ia Europe, Is
pointed out by Maj-Gen. Leonard
Wood. In his annual report Us chiei
of staff of the army, recently made
public. II shows that the actual
strength Of the army Is SOC OH
GERS and $4,000 enlisted men, seat
tered over the world. and the gen
eral declared that TO maintain a
force within the United states SUI
ficient for eyen small expedition
and the police work of the day II
would be- necessary to substantially
increase the regular establishment.
This country is an unarmed,
sleeping giant. slumbering untll
some smaller nation. armed and
equipped for war. attacks II and hu-
initiates the greatest republic on the
globe.
Since It's organization the Nation
al Defense League has been labOring
10 arouse public sentiment
throughout the country for greater
and more adequate means and prep
aration for national defense.
The League secured In the last
army appropriation bill clause.
first introduced In the House as a
separate bill by its chairman. Repre-
sentative Julis Kahn Of California,
which allows the War Department
to distribute free of cost To civilian
rifle clubs ana schools. with ammu-
ntion. $4,000 Krag-Jorgensen rifles
now stored In the arsenals. THIS
legislation was sought unsuccessful
/ Is Tor many years by the National
Association for the Promotion OF
Rifle Practice Thanks 20 the
/ Kahn bill. which was incorporated
.
in the army appropriation bill, ten
civilians anywhere. can now or
ranize a rifle club and secure free
rifles aud ammunition for target
: practice. from the government u Is
/ believed this law will greatly slim
ulate rifle shooting throughout the
| country and thus prepare, a.
/ marksmen. large number Of citl'
/ gems many of whom would be- val
liable nucleus for volunteers. The
law also allows our schools, private
or public, to receive free rifles and
ammunition. This law was the
greatest Legislative work for Ma
tional defense yet accomplished by
the League
The League within the last year
was instrumental in securing orders
! from the Cabinet officers of tbs
: Wilson administration that GOV
eminent employees everywhere. who
are members of the National Guard
can take time from their government
duties for National Guard service
without their efficiency records be
lng hurt In the slightest Before
,.iis was done by the League manl
Government bureau chiefs. even II
Washington. gave unfavorable eff
cheney ratings To employees who were
absent on National Guard duty The
orders were OF great benefit To th'
National Guard
Working along the lines of get
ting the business man Interested ~
the National Guard the Leag<c be
gan with the Commercial OrganZa
tions IN Washington and secured
resolutions from these organiza
tions endorsing the National Guard
and recommending 10 the members
Of the organizations that their EN-
] ploy,s be- allowed two weeks yaca.
ton for National Guard camp duty
annually. In addition TO their regu'
lar vacations. This movement Is
now being extended 10 other cities
/ where commercial organizations are
being aroused TO the necessity of aid.
ing their local guardsmen In this
manner.
The League has persistently ad'
yocated an adequate battleship and
naval program annually. and has
done and Is doing other work along
the lines OF a common sense and
necessary policy for the national de
fence.
Anybody can join the League Pa
triotic women are as much interest
ed In the work as men 4 branch
can be organized anywhere by five
persons Any person can become q
member al large Particulars con
corning the organization ~ branchc'
or membership at large will be sup
/ piled on request To the Secretary
National Defense League. District
/ National Bank Building Washing
( ton. ID e. The membership fee Is
only s. per year Heretofore a
few members have paid all the eX-
/ penses OF the organization,
Some patriotic man or woman In
| this CITY g. urged 10 start the move.