Evening star., 1924-09-13
ARMY CHIEFS DENY !.
WARL|KE GESTURE.
Weeks and Pershing Tell
Capital Marchers That De-
tense Was Sole Aim.

Twenty thousand men-regulars of
the Army and the Navy and citi-
zens who had voluntarily become
soldiers for the day-stood on the
Ellipse yesterday and received per-
sonal assurances from Secretary of
War Weeks and Gen. Pershing that
the Defense day program, in which
they had just participated, consti-
tuted guarantee of continued peace
rather than warlike gesture.
The occasion was the end of Wash
ington's Defense day parade. Up the
historic way of Pennsylvania avenue
the columns had swung. the National
Capitals promise of patriotic adher-
ence to the principles of America in
peace or in war. and they came to
a halt on the broad green carpet of
the Ellipse to receive the plaudits
of the head of the War Department
and the retiring chief of staff of the
Army.
From the Peace Monument they
had marched between lines of cheer
ing men and women, long columns of
Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry with
Impressive legions of men in mufti
interspersed. With the bands filling
the air with martial tunes, it was
Long after the President, Mrs. Cool
idge and members OF his staff had
taken their places in the reviewing
sJand with Gen. Pershing and Secre.
tary of War Weeks. the parade end
ed. Marching past the reviewing Of
f1cials, each organization formed, fac
ing the President, on the Ellipse
After the last man had taken his
stand the great assembly grew still
N hot fn1 q
Rev. James +. Freeman, Bishop of
Washington, wearing the uniform o.
an Army chaplain. raised his arms
and delivered an invocation.
The United States Marine Band
formed directly in front of the stand
played America" and the speeches
followed.
In complimenting Washington on
its response to the Defense day call
both Secretary Weeks and Gen
Pershing expressed qualification over
the fact that the whole hearted par
tictpation OF the citizenry demon
strated the efficiency of the new sys-
tenn of national defense worked out
from the lessons of the World War
The spirit of cooperation shown,
they said, augured we'll for the safety
and democracy.
Citizen Army Efficient.
THE citizen army of the United
States is more efficient today than it
was yesterday and our peace is just
that much more secure" declared the
War Secretary. Our military polic3
is to depend upon a small standing
Army and to rely upon all our cit
iZens to augment it to war proper
tions in the event of an attack. In
no n
policy. The framework of our war
Army did not eXi during peace OF
course that which did not exist could
not be expanded. AS result we had
to create our defenses while resist
ing an enemy. The World War was
bitter indictment of such foolish
ness.
part depicts clearly Washington's de
general plans. The National Capita
has indi, in unmistakable language
that it is perfectly competent to per
form tie defense task assigned to il
by the National Government. and
proposes to make it's strength effective
should such action be necessary.
Train In Own Cities.
when | realize that other cities anG
held similar demonstrations, l do not
hesitate TO say that We come neare
having adequate national defense thar
ever before during peace. We hope. as
d result of today's experiences. to ad:
a home-training plan to our de
organization and expansion
plans. In the event of another emer-
genCy our young men would then re
ceive as much training as possible ir
their own cities instead of being rushed
away to large concentration camps
Every mother whose son was in {
training camp during the World Wa
I know wishes success to our efforts.
THE defense test might well be ex-
tended in scope. If we fau tc
make the American democratic system
of national defense effective, we have
no alternative but to adopt tn
European military system. UnprepaIed
ness is Unthinka BILE.
Predicts Greater Peace.
AN army does not declare war. Con-
gress does that But the War Depart
ment is charged not only with ending
wars which it did not start, but in end
ing them victorious!y. You give us your
sons for that purpose. You should in
sist that they shall not be sacrificed.
and that the War Department shall be
competent ana nave the means lot dc-
its national responsibility
In the minimum Of time and cost.
II predict as one result of such wis
dom a better and more enduring world
peace. All nations will hesitate long
before running the risk of causing
war that might array against them
American principles backed by Ameri-
can might. Our moral influence will be
the powerful world peace factor we all
want it to be-"
Gen. Pershing spoke much along the
same line. emphasizing that the defense
test could not be construed as f1aunt-
ing of power in the faces of other ma
tions. ANY nation would look foolish
to make a threat with such a meager
force he said, land, anyway, under the
present very friendly relations that exist
between us and all other peoples it
could by no reasonable person be re-
garded in that light
ITO me-" the general continued. 'the
success of today's effort is very signifi-
cant, because I feel that the principle
of national defense is now firmly estab-
lished in the minds Of our people. and
that 1t is now placed upon a foundation
which nothing can shake. Considered
from, the Of DdDoint Of defepaa ard from,