The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1918-01-05
NUMBER %.
LOCAL VIGILANCE CORPS URGED
Immediate Action Necessary, Says
American Defense Society.

LOIAL NiSslLANNE CONFo ONSxED
Immediate Action Necessary, Says
American Defense Society.
For the purpose Of aiding the gov
ernment in putting an end to German
propaganda and enemy activity which
has been responsible for costly fires,
ammunition plant explosions, sabot-
age, food scares, and other attempts
to impair the morale of the American
people, the American Defense So
ciety is urging the immediate forma-
tion of local vigilance corps to CO.
operate in the detection and seques-
tration of all disloyal Americans,
pacifists and pro-Germans.
Recent events in this country
make it plain that the. German method
of propaganda which has been so eff
fective in Russia and Italy is now be-
ing attempted in this country with an
alarming degree of success" " accord
ing to the appeal issued by the defense
society. German propaganda has
long been supplied to our troops in
the national encampments. The ship
building program is being interfered
with by German-inspired strikes.
Germans are directing the boarding of
food supplies to an extent that panics
have already been prevalent in the
leading cities. Newspapers are giving
daily reports of fires in ammunition
plants and grain depots, and the coun-
try is now on the verge of an even
greater calamity in the shape of a
railroad strike of unprecedented ex-
tent which threatens to cripple our
national industry
The far-reaching need of local Wig
ilance corps can readily be seen when
it is known that. in this country alone
there are today several million alien
enemies representing Germany, Aus.
tria, Bulgaria, Turkey and other coun-
tries sympathetic or allied with the
Prussian autocracy. Almost without
exception these enemies are free to
go about as they see fit, and while the
government has done much toward
Tightening the censorship Of mails and
cables, nevertheless there are number
less channels by which these enemies
are in touch with the directing genius
of German propaganda in Berlin.
M If 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
American Defense Society.
The, plan Of organization under
taken by the society and recommend-
ed to loyal Americans provides for the
enrolment Of small American vig-
ilance corps in every city and town
which shall classify all residents un-
der the following terms: 1, Loyal; n,
disloyal; 8, doubtful; 4, unknown.
Following the classification of citi-I
lzens, it Is urged that further designa-I
| stion he made according te the olleW-
ling list 1, alien enemy 2, pro Ger
man; 3, anti-goyernment. 81
| In a letter Of instructions to branch
organizations the executive commit
| tee Of the American Defense Society
gives. the following directions:
AT the earliest possible moment,
when you have made your classifica-
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 representa-
tive Of the Department of Justice and
to whatever representatives OF the
army or navy intelligence bureaus
the1 are In your community. Do not
Nt this matter rest. however, with
this first, a Justification of the enemies.
Too much stress cannot be put OF, the
importance of having your own vigil
lance corps take steps TO watch alien
enemies, pro-G ernans and those op.
posed to the government Only bJ
such cooperation viii YOU be able &C
give effective aid to the goyernme
Take every means you can to let tne
people of your city kaoWs the names n's'
Of our enemies. s,. Il.
ssYou are enjoined to WaSh sns
speech, associations and aetivilae 81
every man whom You may sl1sf9essa 3. q
disIoyalty and to send n the szlr1ae IL
ate report.
For further information and in
| structions regarding the work Of the
vigilance corps Of the American De
tense Society, address National Head
qaarters, Al East 23rd Street, New
York City.