The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-12-06
Defense Committee Calls
For Local Viglence Corps
Immediate Action Necessary Says
Their Appeal.

Society, urging citizens here to organ
ize a local vigilance corps, for the
purpose Of aiding the Government In
putting an end to German propagan-
da and enemy activity which has been
responsible for fires, ammunition
plant explosions, sabotage, food
scares and other attempts to damage
the morale of the American people.
Recent events in this country
make it plain that the German meth
cd Of propaganda which has been so
effective in Russia and Italy is now
being attempted in this country with
an alarming degree of success" &C
cording to the appeal to Americans
now being issued by the American
Defense Society. German propagan-
do has long been supplied to our
troops in the national encampments.
The ship-building program is being
interfered with by German-inspired
strikes. Germans arc directing the
boarding Of food supplies to an ex-
tent that panics have already been
prevalent in the leading cities. News
papers are giving daily reports of fires
In ammunition plants and grain de-
pots and the country is now on the
verge of an even greater calamity in
the shape of q railroad strike of un-
precedented extent which threatens
to cripple our national industry"
The far-reaching need Of the local
Vigilance Corps can readily be seen
when 1t is known that in this country
alone there are today several million
alien enemies representing Germany,
Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey and other
countries sympathetic or allied with
the Prussian autocracy. Almost
without exception these enemies are
free to 60 about as they see fit, and
while the Government has done much
toward tightening the censorship of
mails and cables, nevertheless there
are numberless channels by which
thee enemies are in touch with the
directing genius of German propagan-
da in Berlin.
II Americans mean to stand by the
men at the front, whose lives are al
ready being sacrificed, and to stand
by their Government, the opportunity
is offered in the additional service
they can give to this work Of the Am
erican Defense Society.
The plan of organization under
taken by the Society and recommend
ed to loyal Americans provides for
the enrolment of a small American
Vigilance Corps in every city and
town which shall classify all residents
under the following terms:
I. Loyal.
2. Disloyal.
3. Doubtful.
4. Unknown.
Following the general classifica-
ton of citizens the Committee is ur-
ged to make further designation Of
the following list:
/. Alien enemy.
2. Pro-German.
| 8. Anti-Government.
In the letter of instructions to
branch organizations the Executive
Committee of the American Defense
Society gives the following direc-
tions:
"At the earliest possible moment,
when you have made your classified
tion of alien enemies, pro-Germans,
and those opposed to the Government
in this war, send this list to the Po-
lice Department, the local represent
ative of the Department of Justice
and to whatever representatives Of
the army or navy intelligence bureaus
there are in your community. Do not
let this matter rest, however, with the
first classification of the enemies. Too
much stress cannot be put on the i'm
portance of having your own Vigil
ance Corps take steps to watch alien
enemies, pro-Germans and those op-
posed to the Government Only by
such cooperation will you be able to
give effective aid to the Government
Take every means you can to let the
people of your city know the names OF
our enemies"
Unofficial announcement has al
ready been made at Washington that
the Government is about to register
the alien enemies in America. Your
Committee already having acted a.
long such lines, will naturally be in a
position greatly to aid the Govern.
ment Census when such a census is
taken. No doubt many attempts viii
be made to evade the official Govern
ment Census and information on the
enemies in your community will
therefore be of the greatest value"
you are enjoined to watch thu
speech, associations and activities O
every man whom you may suspect O.
disloyalty and to send in an immed
late report For further information
land instructions regarding the worl
of the Vigilence Corps of the Amer
ican Defense Society address Nation
al Headquarters, "A East 23rd Street
New York City.
Attend PendletOn Meeting.
e. R. Huston and R. W. Turner