The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-21
Speaks at Review of Citizens
Army From Camp Meade.
Number in Military Training
Nearly Double This Year.
lO THOUGHT OF WAR, HE SAYS
Concerned Only With Peace
and Security of Peace.
Says Many Ills Can Be Cured by
Physical Development.

washington, Aug. 21.-PreS1dent
Harding in an address here today 10
citizen soldiers from Camp Meade.
| Nd, declared he favored military
training FOR more than 100. 600" civil
ians annually. not for any prospective
aggressive warfare, but to preserve
peace.
After reviewing the civilian troops
| on the Ellipse. adjacent to the White
House grounds, the president called at
tention to the fact that rs. 600 civilians
were afforded training this summer,
compared with 1900 last year Tho
president said the review had given
him new confidence but added that
there was not a thought in America
for armed warfare. the nation being
concerned only in preserving peace
of the world.
In the Camp Meade contingent were
1000 young men, constituting an in
fantry, medical. artillery and cavalry
| units from the District of Columbia.
Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
| who have been in training for three
weeks Declaring that the boys had
been benefited by learning discipline,
the president asserted that all America.
might well benefit by learning little
more impreSsively the obligations Of
the citizen to his country"
The Presidents Address
His address follows:
| II could not allow the opportunity
| to pass without a word of felicitation
and concentration. You have afforded
this morning those who were in review
| and those who carried on the review
a most impressive and reassuring spec
tacle. You are citizens of republic
wholly devoted to peace. There is not
| a thought in America of armed war
fare. There is not a design on the
part Of your country to carry on an
armed campaign in any direction.
we are concerned only with peace
and the security of peace and I like
to think that this great republic re-
ducing its regular army in accordance
with its ideals can have the assurance
| that comes TO 1t with such a spectacle
as you have given us this morning.
congratulate you with all my heart.
1T is a fine thing for the young
manhood, of America to turn from
the ordinary engagement os the va
cation season to a study of military
service and training for service. / am
| not sure. however, but you have prof
tied quite well as your country. IL
my eye testified correctly you have
benefited from the physical training
which always means a higher state OF
American manhood. You have benc-
fitted by learning disciuline You have
benefited as all America might well
benefit by learning a little more inn
pressively the obligations of the citi-
zen to his country.
'It is a rather interesting thing
modern science has learned that the
ills of the nervous and mental being
may be cured by the development OF
the physical being and / take it that
you have not only had wholesome
time but that you are all returning to
your normal pursuits better equipped
for the tasks of life.
Big Increase Over Last Year.
You will be interested to know that
the volunteer citiz ms training move
| ment last year enlisted about I1,0OD
recruits. This year there were 2s.444
| of you in the various camps. If I
| could have my wish this number
would increase until more than 10O.-
| 900 were annually studying and pre-
| pairing for armed service. not that we
ever expect to be called upon for
! such service but solely for national
defense and the preservation OF the
/ government under which we all live.
You know modern soidiery is very
different from that OF nearly all the
history of the world. In olden times
those who were in the profession COM
pensated those in the pursuits of war.
| Our soldering OF today is solely for
national defense and the preservation
of that government under which we
! live. There is new assurance; there
is new confidence: there is new belief
in the perpetuity OF this American re-
public when one can stand as have
stood this morning and noted such a
company of ready volunteer defenders
as you have Ehown us in this review.
Again my congratulations and my
gratitude for your country"
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