Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-01-24
FAVOR PREPAREDNESS
Large Gathering at Surprise Theatrt
Yesterday Afternoon Listen to
Thrilling Speeches

Following a number of interest
ing addresses on preparedness large
audience at the Surprise Theatre yes
terda yafternoon gave enthusiastic ap-
prevail of the establishment of mill
tary training in the Alexandria High
School. Conrad Johnson, princlpa: OF
the school, outlined the plans which ne
hopes to have the school trustees APP
prove, and promised that if they would
do so he would give Alexandria the
best military company in the state.
Mr.. johnson said that company
of So privates and three officers coulo
be established without difficulty anu
with no cost to the school system.
General Nichols, superintendent of the
Virginia Military Institute, had agreed
to commission a graduate of his m
stitptionaas commandant and also to
have the. school regularly inspected.
The United States government WILL
furnish the equipment and there is
room on the high school lot to drill
regiment. There is also room for the
gun lockers, in the basement of the
new building.
The only cost to Alexandria will be
the uniforms of the boys, and Mr..
Johnson said that these would take
the place of the regular school suits
which the boys wear at present. The
uniforms complete with cap will cost
about SIS each, and Mr.. Johnson said
that this was small cost for first
class suit that would not wear out.
He said that an ordinary suit and cap
would cost more
While there are about $50 boys in
The high school, he said that it would
only be possible to take those of Il
certain size, and therefore one COM
pany would be all that could be or
gained at present. He said that he
had the hearty support of Capt. w. h.
Sweeney, superintendent of schools in
the undertaking.
When the principal had concluded
ne was heartily applauded, and Mr..
Blanton, presiding, asked all those in
favor of Mr.. Johnson's project to
stand. The entire audience, with the
exception of two or three persons,
arose.
Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, the iirst
speaker, welcomed the other speakers
to Alexandria. She said that she had
been greatly impressed upon her re-
turn to Alexandria to see for the first
time the magnificent high school build
ing, and that although she had been
spending year in the glorious west,
where they think so much Of education
she had not seen school building
chat seems to be so suggestive as was
the Alexandria high school building.
She said that she was proud that
Alexandria was the first city to call
meeting to consider national de.
Tense after the close of the meeting
of the national security league in
Washington.
Arthur H. Dadmun, secretary of
: the Navy League of the United States
was the second speaker He gave con-
vincing reasons for the strengthening
Of our navy, declaring that display
of force is necessary to maintain
peace He compared the strength OF
the navy Of the United States with
the navies of several of the other
powers, and declared that Japan
doesn't love US" and Germany NATL
rally row is possible enemy" Mr..
Dadmun said that international law
had "been on the scrap heap for y
year. ana asserted that this country
is facing crisis that must soon show
The wisdom of placing the navy un-
der the control of general board.
He also asserted that Monroe doc
trinc is only as strong as the United