Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-10-26
u. S. MOBILIZATION
BY BUTTON GALL
To Be Pressed by Pershing On
His Next Birthday
AMERICA ON SWISS PLAN
Would Be ImpresnabIe II Attacked,
But Little Able To Attack 9th
ers-Most Important
Work.

Washingt0n.--The most critical
moment in the life Of Gen. John J.
Pershing will come when on his
next birthday he will press the
button in his big Office in the War
Department at Washington to
give the signal for the test mobil-
ization of Americas citizen sol
diery.
BLACK Jack" says that he looks for
ward with dread to the day that he
must retire from the army. for he
loves the service that he has made his
life's work And he looks forward to
this day with the greatest anxiety for
II will bring the acid test to that part
of his work which he regards as his
most important service to the coun-
try
For General Pershing does not be-
lieye that his command of the Amer
lean army during the World War was
his greatest service.
He regards as most important the
work which he has been doing since
the war-the training of a great cit
izen army to defend the United States
in another big war.
Other great military and naval lead
ers of the World War have been CON
tent to retire and rest on their iaurels.
Not 50 Pershing, now nearing "a. In
the United States there are the World
War leaders Dickman, Liggett. Har-
bord, McAndrews, all on the retired
list but McAndrews, who is dead. In
the Allied countries, Foch, Diaz, Haig,
Beatty. all now act only in advisory
capacities
Most every day finds Pershing at his
desk in the War Department, an active
chief of STAFF and general Of the armies,
working over the details Of the train
ing Of Americas citizen army, or in
the preparation. for instance, OF pro
posed draft legislation in case Of an
other war For every possible detail
is being attended to In the prepara-
tion of this country for any great mill
tary crisis.
AT recent speech to citizen soldiers
whom he reviewed Pershing urged the
"best girl Of every man in the coun-
try to see to it that her sweetheart
becomes a citizen soldier. In Switzer.
land. where there is the nearest ap-
proach to such military system as
Pershing is working for. it is true that
the average girl will not associate with
a man unless he has gone through
with his military training.
Pershing is seeking to guarantee
American against attack He does not
think that the work he is doing will
lead America into war. He declares
he is not advocating militarism, but
ia seeking to place this country in
such secure military defense position
that no nation, no matter how great
armies it may have. will dare to attack
us, nor even any combination of pow
ers viii risk move against us.
Black Jack" makes It plain that he
does not take the credit for the new
military policy of the United States.
This policy dates back to George
Washington. who, first advocated the
gist of the National Defense act. The
Father Of His Country" in an address
to the Continental battalions at the
end of the Revolutionary War urged
the voluntary military training of the
citizens of the United States into Con
tinental battalions." Washington failed
to see his plan put into effect and now
Pershing is trying to carry out the
work begun by his distinguished mill
tary predecessor.