Evening star., 1924-07-30
War Department Officials As.
sert Patriotic Display Is
Essential Part.
LOCAL CONTROL ASSURED
OF DEFENSE DAY PLANS
Extent of Civilian Participation on
September IL Left to Volun-
tary Action.

Plans. for the observance OF Sep.
tember IL as Defense day. a project
which has become a subject of much
public controversy. are laid down in
detail in instructions sent by the
War Department to the chiefs Of all
Its branches and to the commanding
generals OF all corps areas.
AS made public by the department
for the first time, the instructions say
that the general plan for the day ha,
two main detectives, namely, patri.
otic demonstrations and a test mo.
bilization" By way OF preface. 1t IL
explained that in lieu OF extensive
field exercises which for economic
reasons cannot be held during the
present calendar year. the Secretary
of War has decided to initiate fol
continental United States a mobili-
zation demonstration which will
serve as an occasion for assemblaees
and ceremonies involving public mani.
festations Of loyalty and practical
patriotism"
The document Is several thousand
words in length.
Based sn 1917 Experienee.
TT is expected that the initial mo-
bilization plans will be in such a
state by September IL. 1924. that II
will be practicable on this occasion
to subject the underlying principle.
thereof to analysis and tests" 1t Is
stated.
BASED. as they are. upon the ex-
perience OF 1917 and 1918. the policy
of decentralization is embodied
wherever believed to be practicable.
Local mobilization. a special feature
in the new mobilization plans. will
be emphasized and tried out by this
test. This should eliminate much of
the delay and confusion caused by
hurried expediency in the past.
sy's.The plans and the dscentraliseA au-
tAority to bs exercised by corps area
conamanders and State ofncisis depend
TOT their s6ectiveness upon the public
realizing the methods Of operation
Each person should know something
Of the agencies which guide the ef-
forts Of his community. Consequently.
wherever there are military units of
any character on September IL. 1924.
the procedure Of mobilization will be
demonstrated as fully as Is practicable
without extra expenditure Of public
funds. Efforts will be made to test
the value and reveal tho defects Of the
plans.
Local Control Allowed.
TT Is the purpose Of the War De-
partment to prescribe the general
plan only, leaving to the command
ing generals Of corps areas and the
district of Washington, and to chiefs
Of branches in connection with activ-
tiles under their control, the detailed
plans for carrying into effect the
general plan, which has two main
detectives, namely. patriotic demon
strations and test mobilization"
The commanders were directed to
take up the matter confidentially with
State and local authorities as to ap-
pointment of civilian committees, as
OF the date the Instructions were is
sued, April 26, last. The civilian COM
mittees, it was added. would repre-
sent State and local agencies, (which
would be used in procurement under
either a volunteer Or selective service
SYSTEM Of the men necessary to al
up the ranks Of all branches Of the
Army.
Their functions in this respect
should be demonstrated in each COM
munity by filing tho ranks of the
organization stationed in the viGn-
ity," the circular Of instruction con
tinued, "the personnel for which may
be secured through invitations te
civilians OF military age to serve fol
the day only, with specified units
1Contjnued on Page 2, Column s.