Evening star., 1924-09-13
OFFICIALS ELATED
BY DEFENSE TEST
Response of Men of Military
Age to "CaII to"Arms"
R0uSeS Enthusiasm.

Elated over the response of Amer
lean citizers to the first test of the
countrys machinery for raising an
army, War Department officials to-
day were outspoken in their praise
of the Nations manhood and of those
in the organizations which assisted
in the mobilization. Enough mer of
military age were in line-in the
Army of the United States, including
the three components. Regular es-
tablishment, National Guard and Or
ganized Reserves-to produce al
army of 100000 men, Secretary of
War Weeks said today. He expressed
himself as delighted with the parade
here yesterday and with the reports
which are coming in from all parts of
the country.
Pershings Well Pleased.
Secretary Weeks said he had no
idea that Defense day response would
be as great as it was throughout the
country. While the Secretary said
that it would be some time before
the details are sifted down. he added
that everything that comes in from
all parts of the country is good
Gen. Pershing declared today that
the demonstration was wonderful He
was intensely pleased with the ex-
where he viewed the parade, he
Stated
week ago Gen. Pershing wrote a
letter to Brig. Gen. Rockenbach. COM
manding the military district of
Washington, congratulating him on
the success of the latter's plans for
turning out the manhood of the Ma
tion's Capital. While others were
doubling. Pershing and Rock kenbach
knew. Gen. Pershing, those who
served under him said, never sends
congratulations until task was
done. He accepted no excuses, and If
an officer didn't perform a task, he
was relieved. The letter to Gen.
Rockenbach is evidence that Gen.
Persh1ng, after personal inveStiga-
tion of the conditions here. knew that
the task had been completed seven
days before the time for the parade.
Capital Exceeds Quota.
Gen. Rockenbach was intensely
pleased with the showing made by
the men of Washington. He had
nothing but compliments for the COM
mittees and organizations which
worked to make the day a success,
and is getting ready to publish an
order thanking all those who had any
thing to do with the movement here.
From preliminary figures, Gen.
Rockenbach estimates that there
were 10000 in the line of march, &c.
900 of whom were with the military
organizations. Washington's quota
in time of war is $4,000 men, SO that
puts the National Capital high on the
list.
First Corps Area.
Mai. Gen. Andre w. Brewster, at
irc Cnrn0
Area, which includes Maine, Vermont,
New Hampshire, Vermont. Massachu-
setts, Connecticut and Rhode Island,
telegraphed the department that the
participation in defense test exercises
for the three branches of the Army
in his area included a turnout of 5000
Regular troops, $4,000 National
Guardsmen and $4,000 Organized Re
serves, Including one-day volunteers"
The number of citizens who partici-
pated was conServatively estimated at
1000 900, he said, adding that $50
cities in the. area have already re-
ported demonstrations"
Mai. Gen. Robert l.. Bullard, Gov
ernors Island, New York, command
ing the I'd Corps Area, including New
Jersey, Delaware. New York and Porto
Rico, reported that the turnout of
Regulars in his area was $4,000, Ma
tional Guard, $4,000; Organized Re-
serves, $4,000. and one-day volunteers
about 10000. Nine hundred towns,
of which 18O had military units allo-
Gated them, held demonstrations. 1t
was estimated that 100000 citizens,
including 100000 in New York City.
participated, and patriotic services
were held in numerous churches.
Monster parades were held in the
larger cities. said Gen. Bullard, and
enthusiasm and large attendanceS were
noted in smaller places.
Maj. Gen. William r. Smith, Balti-
more, in temporary command Of the
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