The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-08
DEFENSE SOCIETY
TO STRIKE first
Will Battle Bryan's Idea By
Showing How Weak
u. S. Has Been.
WARNING TO BE ISSUED
School Histories Gloss Over Condi-
tons. 1t Experimentation on
Defense Day." December E.

Plans for an aggressive fight
against the pacifst element in Con-
gress and the peace-at-any-price pro-
motors, headed by William J. Bryan.
have been perfected by the American
Defense Society and are to be put
into immediate execution.
In the nucleus of it's forces the So
ciety numbers former President
Roosevelt, Truman H. Newberry, and
Charles Joseph Bonaparte, both for
mer Secretaries of the Navy; Presi-
dent John Grier Hibben. of Prince
ton University: David Jayne Hill, for
mer Ambassador to Germany; Hudson
Maxim, and other men OF equal stand
ing. c. S. Thompson is chairman of
the board of trustees.
Ii VIII Make First Blow.
On a general understanding that
the pacifists and peace-at-any-price
element will assume the offensive and
will endeavor to place the administra-
ton and other advocates of adequate
preparedness against war on the de-
Tense, the society proposes to strike
the first blow in the prospective con-
test in Congress. For some time, the
society has been gathering ammuni-
tion and IL now is prepared to I'M
timber its artillery and open the fight.
In its movement the society also
proposes to erect a number OF UNI
preparedness tablets at many points,
in commemoration of the men who
gave their lives as martyrs to Ameri-
can military inefficiency" and to mark
public buildings which in the past
have suffered partial destruction at
the hands of the nations enemies.
Among the latter are the Capitol and
the White House, burned by the Brit
ish in 1914.
we believe" says Mr.. Thompson.
that the average American citizen today
is idling under the so-called patriotic illu-
sion that he has but to don a uniform to
become ar efficient soldier; that our
isolation from foreign attack is as COM
pI, =, as in revolutionary days. and that
ou~ history has been one of glory unfair
nished by military weakness.
Unframed Regiments Deserted.
MANY of our school histories show
only the ultimate victory. Guessing over
the costly system. the weakness. the
number of troops which inefficiency COM
PEELED the United States to use as COM
pared with those used by the enemy. and
the desertions, by regiments, OF an I'M
trained militia sent out by an unprepared
government.
We believe that such instances Of neg
lect and unpreparedness should be pub
lished as a solemn warning to the Ameri-
can people and that something should be
done Immediately to avoid what all mill
tary historians agree Is q needless waste
OF life"
The American Defense Society has sent
a letter to kindred organizations asking
their cooperation in pointing out the
need of improvement in our school his
,orias" and in the erection OF tablets ito
the martyrs of unpreparedness-" 1t also
offers its cooperation in furthering the
cause Of American citizenship"
A feature of the society's program Will
be a series of demonstrations throughout
the country on December 6, the opening
day of Congress. which II has named
Defense Day." The demonstration here
will be made especially impressive for the
benefit of the national statesmen.