Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-22
PATRIOTIC SOUTH
NEEDS NO WAKING,
GEN. WOOD ASSERTS
"Never Let Another War
Catch Us Unprepared" Is
Keynote Sounded by Famous
Soldier at Five Points


prepared
That was the advice shot into a null
titude of people at Five Points Saturz'
day afternoon by General Leonard
Wood, and the crowd surged toward
him and roared it's approval in stem
torian tones.
THE south needs no waking up The
south is very much alive"
That was the tribute which he paid
to the wonderful patriotic demonstra-
ton, anu again the crowd surged for
ward and Numbered forth a cheer.
1t was after the parade had passed,
after the ocean of people had swirled
in behind the marchers and closed the
lane, after the bugler stationed by Cen
eral Wood had sounded attention.
From the narrow ledge facing Peach
tree street where ne reviewed the pa
rade, General Wood had moved around
to the northern front of the grandstand,
facing the steel flag pole.
The crowd moved in, packed close,
stood so tight that the men could hard
ly remove their hats
Mayor Gambler held up his hand for
silence A murmur ran through the
crowd for silence. The people turned
their faces toward the stand. They
lifted the children up where children's
eyes could see the famous general
MAYORS REMARKS.
81 am sure the wonderful patriotic
enthusiasm displayed here this after
noon is an inspiration to General Wood,
as it is to all of u.s." said Mayor Can
dler.
IF there was ever any doubt that
the south is patriotic, we have COM
pletely dispelled 1t here.
IT take great pleasure In introducing
to you General Leonard Wood"
The crowd packed a little closer, Gen
eral Wood stepped forward, and there
rose a mighty cheer.
IT am glad to be here on such an in
spring occasion as this" said General
Wood. 81 appreciate more than I can
tell you the wonderful demonstration
you have given here in favor of pre-
paredness."
The general paused the crowd gave
another cheer.
you have seen the young officers of
the training school go marching by this
afternoon. They are training for war.
You should remember that they are the
very first men we are training for Of
ficers-six weeks after our country en-
tered the war"
Again the general paused, for the sig
nificance of that point to sink in. 1t
sank, and sank deeper, into the minds
point.
at is no time to prepare for war
after entering war" he shot into the
crowd, and again his words sank In,
and this time they cheered.
1--WE can prepare in safety now" the
general continued, because we are
fighting behind the protection Of strong
allies. But suppose we didn't have their
protection? Where would we be?"
mi Ill aIrT
on their feet. The picture of unpre-
pared America attacked by Germany
seemed to flash across their minds like
a horrible nightmare. sort of shiver
seemed to run through the crowd And
then General Wood shot 1t into them
strong.
Never let this happen again!"
roar, tremendous and fairly cleo
trical in the intensity OF the peoples
voices, split the air.
Never again let war catch us I'M
prepared
And back from the crowd came the
thunderous answer:
Never again.
Remember what George Washington
said" continued General Wood IRE
member what Thomas Jefferson safd.
"You know 1t by heart. You have
heard 1t since you were school chill
dren. And today you realize what they
meant, as you have never realized 1T
before
"'In time of peace. prepare for war
| that is what they said" T.
And again the crowd sent up a cheer
six weeks after entering the war
we must raise an army, raise the sup
plies and equipment for them, raise
enormous quantities of food to feed
our people and our allies
we are in for a long war. You may
not realize 1T now, but you will when
the casualty lists come in and you read
the names of your boys who've been
killed and wounded and taken prisoner"
But the crowd seemed to realize It
now. for they were quiet and deadly
serious.
1--WE are In for a war that may last
as long, from today, as the Civil war
lasted. We must make tremendous sac
rifices. Tens of thousands of our young
men must go to the trenches and fight"
The general paused to let his words
sink in. But there was no uneasy shift
ing of the crowd, as when he pictured
to them the unprepared America at
tackled by Germany.
There was no restless movement. no
SILVER of uneasiness. There was just
stiffness, quietness, set and Sc
rious look on the faces of men and
look on the faces of women which was
not fearful, but which meant more than
tears.
They knew General Wood was telling
them the facts. the hard, straight facts.
But they didn't finch when he told
them They knew he was telling them
the truth when he said they were go
ing to be called on for sacrifices, and
they showed by the looks on their faces
that they stand where Americans and
southerners have always stood-ready
for sacrifice when their country calls
And then the general showed them
that he knew what they meant by their
silence and their stiffness, that he knew
where they stood.
THE south" said General Wood,
needs no awakening. The south is
awake"
And that relieved the tension, and
the crowd came back with the rebel
yell.
"Out Of this war" said General Wood,
will come united America. There
will be no Irish Americans, no German
Americans, no Americans Of any special
varieties whatsoever. There will be a
nation of plain, un-hyphenated Ameri-
cans"
Which brought forth another long
resounding cheer.
Back up the government" said Cen
| oral Wood "Fill I'm the armies StOp