The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1917-12-14
LOCAL VILICANCE
CORPS WANTED
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEcEssARY
American Defense Society Sends
Request 10 Mayor Debney.

public request received from
Richard N. Hurd. chairman Of the
Board Of Trustees Of the American
Defense Society, urging citizens
here 10 organize a local vigilance
corps, for the purpose Of aiding the
government In putting an end 10
German propaganda and enemy ac-
tivity which has been responsible
for fires, ammunition plant explos-
ions, sabotage. fooo scarces and
other attempts 10 damage the mo-
rale Of the American people. n
Recent events In this country
make u plain that The German
method Of propaganda which has
been 80 effective In Russia and
Italy Is now being attempted In this
country with an alarming degree Of
success" according 10 tue appeal
10 Americans now being issued by.
the American Defense Society
German propaganda. has long been
supplied 70 our troops in the nation
al encampmenls. The ship-buiiding
program is being lntcrferred with
by German-inspircd strikes. Ger
mans are directing The boarding Of
food supplies 10 an extent that
panics have already been prevalent
In the leading cititos Newspapers
are giving daily reports Of flrcs in
ammunition plants and grain depols
and the country lsnow ON the verge
Of an even crater calamity In the
shape OF q railroad strike Of un-
preccndenied extent which threat
ems 10 cripple our national indus
try.
Tho far-reAchlne need cf The LOCAL
rleif u~r Corps can readily he seem
when Il is known that In this coun-
try alone there are today several
millions alien enemies representing
Germany. Austria. Bulgaria. Turkey
aud the Prussian autocracy Al
most without exception these enc
mics are froo 10 so about as they
see NJ. and whilo the government
has done much toward tietlnlng the
censorship OF mails and cables.
nevertheless there are numborless
channels by which these enemies
are In touch with the directing gen.
ius Of German propoganda in Ber-
lin.
n Americans mean 70 stand Dy
the men al the front, whose lives
are already sacrificed. aud 70 stand
by their government, the opportun-
ity Ia offered IN the additional SER
vice they can give 10 this work OF
the American Defense Society.
The plan Of organization under
taken by the Society and recon-
mended 10 loyal Americans provides
for the enrolment OF . small Ameri-
can Yirilnnco Corps Il every city
and town which snail classify oil
residents under the following terms;
I. Loyal.
2. Disloyal.
2. Doubtful.
4. Unknown.
Following the general classiilra-
urged 10 make further designation
ton Of citizens the committee is
urged 20 make further designation
Of ihe following list:
I. Alien enemy
2. Pro-German.
3. i-Government.
In the letter OF Instructions 10
branch organizations the Executive
Commitiee OF the American ne-
fcnse Society gives the following
directions.
AT the earliest possible moment.
when you have made your ciassifl-
cation Of alien enemies, pro-Ger-
mans, and those opposed 70 the gov
ernment In this war send this lisl
10 The Police Department. the local
representative Of the Department Of
Justice and 10 whatever representa-
lives OF the army or navy intoili-
gence bureaus there arc In your
community. do not lot this matter
rest. however, with this. first olassi-
ication of tho enemies. Too much
stress cannot be put on the impor-
'0lce OF having your own Vi1i'a-cc
Corps take steps 10 wstrh nlicn
'nemies. pro-GerInnns aud ihosa
orp"s'd 70 'he government. 0n'y
W sch corporation will you be
eble 10 give effective aid 10 The
government Take every means you
can TO LET the people Of your cts
know the names OF our euemies."