New Britain herald., 1924-09-12
Towns, Cities And States All Over U. S. Show What Could Be Done For Quick Mobilization If Neces- sary.
PHILADELPHIA HAS
 ENORMOUS PARADE

Ney Haven. Sept. 12.--state-wide observance of national defense day. With parades and varied exercises in all Of the cities and many of the towns, will take place in most in- stances late this afternoon and to- night.
 Locally the parade will start at the railway station including in the line of march practically every mili- tary and civic organization. Mayor FitzGerald will review the process sion at the city hall in company with the local citizens committee and city and county officials and members of the Grand Army. Exercises on the Green tonight will include an invo- cation by Chaplain Daniel Strick- land of the 102nd infantry with brief addresses by the mayor local United States army recruiting officer and others. A dinner for officers of the regular army, National Guard and reserve corps will be held this eve- ming,
 Hartford will have its principal observance of the day on the capitol grounds, following a parade of mili- tary units and patriotic and frater- nal organizations headed by Adjt. Gen. George M. Cole. During the exercises to follow the Connecticut Society of Colonial Danes is to hre- sent to the 304th infantry, 76th divi- sion a stand of colors, the ceremony to be preceded by the blowing of bugles and followed by a program of addresses by prominent citizens.
 Airplanes will fly over the capitol grounds during the exercises and will also make trips to Meriden, Manchester and other nearby places.
 Parade in Bridgeport .r..
 At Bridgeport an evening parade of local military units and twilight patriotic ceremony will be the fea- lures of the observance.
 Similar parades and accompanying ceremonies have been announced in Waterbury, Meriden, Norwalk, New London, Ansonia, Derby, Danbury. Wsllingford and other places. Stam- ford will hold a patriotic public meeting to which the local military units have been invited and at which an address will be made by Gen. Henry C. Hodges, U. s. A., retired.
 Secretary George B. Chandler of the Connecticut chamber of com merce will be the principal defense day speaker at exercises to be held ip Fairfield. Rev. J. Chauncey Lin- sley is to deliver an address in Tor rington. Schools throughout the state held patriotic exercises during the day, with addresses or talks in ex- plaration of the nature of the ob- servance by the teachers.
 A feature of the Waterbury ob- servance is the enrolment of Red Cross workers, while Red Cross units in many other places will likewise participate in the days events.
 Test Defense Machinery
 Washington. Sept. 12. - The ma tion's defense machinery intended for actual use only in the event of a war emergency, was given its first test today accompanied by patriotic demonstrations throughout the Unit ed States and its possessions It was a limited test, the actual expansion plans of the war department being designed to cover a period of months but dealing only with the question of personnel and not with supply, equipment, housing or training, the progressive stages were consolidated into this one day.
 The days program called for a trial of the decentralized defense machinery set up since the national defense act of 1920 was substituted for the pre-war system. Demon stration of the success of the new scheme of defense, will signalize the separation from the military estab- iishment at least so far as active service is involved of General John Pershing, who has devoted his time since 1918 to perfecting 1t.
 When the defense day tests &C., tually got under way it was apparent to the war department officials, after studying reports from outlying commands. that their hopes had been entirely justified by the re- sponse throughout the country of men who for the day had reported for "duty' to the corps area com- manders and in the more local dis 'ricts to the committees set up to