The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-14
ANSWERING CALL
TO JOIN coLoRS
From Office and Workshop Men
Respond to the Presidents
Summons.
WAYS OF war ARE CHANGED
Assembling Of Militia 6usinessIike
Proceeding Showing Lessons Of e..
fcleney Drawn From European
War Arc Not Unheeded.

WashingtOn.-The call to the colors
y sew men from the fling case to the
dog tent; from the card index life to
living In the open. The mobilization
was on. The troop trains moved; the
streets were filled with marching regl-
ments; the rumble Of caissons was
heard in the city parks; and horsemen
clattered in orderly rows while guild
ons dropped in summer rain. The
tocsin of the telephone had tinkled in
the heart Of the skyscraper; the tele-
graph hud brought citizen sOldiery
back from Its Journeys. from Its busi-
ness concerns, even from wedding
trips, for General Funston had wired
for militia to patrol the Rio Grande
This Is no repeat Of fateful Au-
gust nearly two years ago In lands
across the seas. but the story of June.
1916, when preparedness became &C.
ton and the military camps were peo-
Piled overnight by hosts in khaki and
olive drab. The Plattsburg idea was
translated into fact and the rocky
changed from novice to one whose
trade is war. ~
Infantry, artillery, cavalry emerged
from the offices and the stores. The.
grim armories which in ordinary days
seem like deserted Norman strong
holds having nothing In common with
their surroundings became centers of
a new and vital interest, where thou
sands of armed men were being gath
cred in efficient readiness. How it all
brought, back those days Of the Span
ish-American war when the cry to IRE
member the Maine" stirred patriot
people and men scented battle on land
and sea!
Ways Of War Changed.
They assembled to arm, not know
ing ut what time war might be de-
clared upon Mexico and as eager to
do their duty as they were against
the forces Of old Spain.
The ways of war have greatly
changed since this country last gave
ear to martial strains. So 1t hap
pened that every soldier, every &C.
coutrement, every wagon or piece Of
artillery which passed through city or
village streets or even along the broad
highway was weighed and balanced in
the scale of efficiency. These are days
when every man and every woman Is
a student Of the game Of Mars.
The newspapers and the magazines
have presented thousands of pictures
of maneuvers and battles and Incl
dents from the great theaters of the
eastern and the western fronts In Eu-
rope. War has shown Its horrors In
the moving-picture shows, and even
actual battles have found their way
to the screen. Military critics are
everywhere.
Martial Ideal Aroused.
The Spanish-American war came
with q rush; the mobilization Of this
June was the close of months of study
of when and how and where. The
martial ideal Of people was seen In
the massing Of troops, the moving Of
trains, the mastering Of industrial re-
sources. Everywhere men sprang to
their new Job Of soldering eager and
alert. The veterans Of the National
Guard were the first recruits to re-
spond. for, after serving for seven
years In days Of peace many were
glad enough to pursue the hope Of ac-
tive service. ~ se4s +
It was businesslike proceeding,
this assembling Of the $4,000 or 10000
Of the militia for the border. First,
the call to the armories and the se-
lection Of those who could 60 at once;
then the packing up the buckling to-
gether Of canvas bags, the tightening
of girths, the saddling Of steeds COM
Wandered from commerce; the meth
odical entraining. and then cheers and
tears. ,ga@ like n,.,4,. 3 r
The galleries Of every arrnory were
oiled with the mothers, wives and
sweethearts. Woman, when the warn
Ing Of war comes. Is both proud and
SAD. She weeps for the going Of q
man to tight and smiles within that
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