The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-12
COUNCIL Of DEFENSE.
PEOPLE MUST REALIZE ACUTE
SITUATION.
Councu Of Defense to Rcgtn Public
Health Campaign as War Enier-
gency.

mceunk OF the state Council or De-
fense was held In Columbia yesterday
and an enlarged program of activity
to put the State on an effective war
basis mapped out.
The biggest project to engage the
attention of the body the coming
months will be a Statewide public
health campaign TO help the State
and the public health service to elm
mate the social evil. and to stimulate
activity which will assist I'm the ex-
termination of contagious and infec-
tious diseases. AS much as $1,000
win be expended In this work. IL such
amount be necessary. and a commit
tee was appointed to hold conferences
with representatives of public health
agencies and workers and to formu-
late plans Of procedure The council
will be careful not to verlap or dupli-
cate the work the federal and State
health representatives are prosecut-
ing. but will become q vital factor in
the extension of this work. d. r.
Coker.. state chairman, was instruct
cd to direct a letter to all mayors and
intendants Of cities and towns of the
state. to solicit their coperation in
Kidding the State Of social evil resorts.
Several instructive talks were made at
the meeting. emphasizing the great
inroads made on the fighting forces
OF the country by deaths from pre-
ventabie diseases.
Governor Manning returned from
Washington at midday and came to
the meeting directly from the train.
He did not wish to unduly alarm the
members of the council. but felt i'm
pelled to bring to them the apprehen-
sion that exists In Washington, rela-
tive to the situation abroad. The
members Of the body should take
back to the people the facts as nearly
an could be given. and to encourage
and urge that the people realize the
utmost necessity OF getting upon an
effective war basis without delay.
He could not speak officially, but
from information he had gained. the
opinion OF military experts was that
the struggle on the western front
would result In a stalemate and that
tho German lines were impregnable
Germany must be struck from anoth-
or direction" he emphasized. and he
would not be surprised to see Ameri-
ca strike at Germany through Rus
sia. II was also In tho realm OF pos
sibility for Germany to land troops
In Mexico and strike at America
through that country. The raid by
German submarines along the Allan
tic seaboard. he believed. was only a
prelude as TO what might ne expected
The draft is to be swift and heavy
Governor Manning pointed out and
the men are to be mobilized In great
numbers just as fast as they can be
equipped. which would necessitate the
waving OF agricultural exemption.
Sacrifices would be increasingly nec-
essary. In Germany. he said. the peo-
pie are only allowed to buy two suits
OF clothing a year. and the people OF
America would be called on to make
similar sacrifices.
Governor Manning said impressions
In Washington were that all war ac-
rivities are making excellent progress.
He was pleased with the work the
Council OF Defense has been accom-
plishing and told the members its ef-
forts were highly commended In the
national capital.
The Council OF Defense passed q
resolution. heartily indorsing the war
savings movement, and placed tho
organization at the disposition of the
war savings directors i'm the approach
ing campaign. Joe Sparks. State or
ganizer. Of war savings. made an
earnest appeal to the council The
state will be called on to subscribe
s3s,ooo.oo0 by the end of the year,
which Is more than the two Liberty
loan campaigns combined. The cam
paign Is to begin June IA. and Pres
ident Wilson Is counting on 400. 900
purchasers of war savings stamps, Mr..
Sparks said.
The council went on record as re-
garding as unpatriotic unwarrantcd
advances In house rents. which has
become such n problem In cities wieh
army camps and other war activity
ccnters
Il. II. Buckingham OF Aiken was
Appolnted a commlttee of ono from,