The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-11
NATIONAL DEFENSE DAY

September 12 has been set aside by the commander-in-chief of our army and our collateral military units as day for mobilization and review. The occasion is to be known as National Defense Day, and it properly represents the attitude of the American people towards war and military organization. The people of this country are not, never have been, and never will be militaristic. That does not mean that they will not fight. History is all to the contrary. But it does mean that they want military concerns to be subordinate to national necessity. They want only such army and navy as would be adequate to repel any sudden attack, and of such efficiency as to form the nucleus for prompt and rapid expansion in the case of war emergency. Indeed, the smaller our standing units, the more imperative it is that they be thoroughly equipped and efficient in every partic- ular. There is reason for grave sus- picion. that our standing units are not adequately endowed with funds to main- tain such efficiency. That is one of the things the next congress must remedy. No excessive expenditure is desired or contemplated, but it is only wise to make the provision essential to carry out our modest military program.
 Our standing units are small. Thus does it become of all the greater impor- .tance that our reserves be developed to an adequate degree, so that when trou- ble comes, if it should come, mobiliza- tion may be prompt and effective This matter of civilian reserves is based on a plan formulated under Woodrow Wilson and given his explicit, cordial and em- phatic approval. It provides for National Guard units in each state and in each populous community. It provides for an Officers Reserve Training Corps of ST. 900 men, trained and prepared to drill the reserve troops and to whip them into military efficiency at the earliest mo- ment. It provides for the Civilian Mili- tary Training Camps at which young men may be instructed in the rudiments of drill and tactics during periodic en- campments at various central points throughout the United States. In the re- cent past sufficient importance has not been attached to this reserve training, and the appropriations, especially for the Officers Reserve, have been inadequate. Nevertheless, progress has been made, and there is prospect of still more effec- tive result in the future.
 Mobilization Day, or National De- fense Day, is the occasion for taking stock of all, our reserve and civilian units. It is review of what has been accom- plished, an inventory of practical re- suits. It is not in any sense political, and the highest type of patriotism will guard against any political significance being attached to it, or any political cap- ital being coined out of it. When it comes to affairs of this kind the Amer ican people know no party and no di- vision. They stand shoulder to shoulder for the nations defense, not in man. ner to be interpreted as provocative of war, any more than insuring One's life is provocative of death. Indeed, it is be- lieved that our program of civilian train ing, if properly carried out, is the best possible insurance against war. There fore, let the American people cordially endorse National Defense Day as an oc- casion conservative of the public safety.