The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-09-18
LITTLE INTEREST in
DEFENSE DAY TEST
OF COL. DRYFIELD
BROWN FRIDAY HEARD BY
DISAPPOINTING AUDIENCE
MANY HAVE WRONG VIEW
RAIN INTERPRETERS WITH NIGHT
DEMONSTRATION ON SHORE
OF SAUK LAKE

The first National Defense Test
Day program was successfully car
ried out in Sank Centre last Friday
as far as the committees in charge
We're concerned, their plans being
well laid.
Colonel Dryfeld Brown, as sched-
uled, delivered an address in the
Junior High School Auditorium at
4 100 o'clock. 1t was regrettable
fact and keen disappointment to
the committee in charge that so few
Sank Centre citizens availed them
selves of the opportunity to hear the
message that Colonel Brown had to
deliver, and more especially that
very few of the school children were
in attendance.
1t is probable that many citizens
had the wrong view, or were misin-
formed, of the significance of the
National Defense Test Day move
ment. 1t is not mobilization for war,
and no call to arms. Just as we
have Mothers Day, and Better Homes
Week, so we have National Defense
Test Day. There are perhaps paci-
fists so extreme in their views that
they would look with disfavor upon
Defense Day, set by authority on
September 18th, but such individuals
probably would regard with disfavor
the observance of the Fourth of
July and Memorial Day, since these
occasions bring us intimately into
association with thoughts of war.
Colonel Brown brought out in his
address that we are not in favor of
crime. We would like to see crime
outlawed, but until it is, we must
have police and courts. We are not
in favor of war and would like that
it too be outlawed but unit it is we
must take our own measure of pre-
paredness in case war should be sud-
denly thrust upon US.
From it's inception it seems that our
Republic has periodically been drawn
into war and always with sudden
awakening to the realization of it's
utter lack of definite military pol
icy. The toll in treasures and blood
that has been exacted as a result of
this situation has been appalling" he
said.
To eliminate the possibility of find
ing ourselves in this condition in the
future, Congress, June 1920, passed
a National Defense Act, and for, the
first time in our history we have a
definite military policy. This policy
is very simple and certainly cannot
be construed as militaristic as some
individuals would have US believe.
This act of Congress provides for
one army consisting of three compon-
ents- a small regular army. the Ma
tional Guards, and the organized re-
serves. In case of national emer-
gency the first two components con.
stitute the first line and carry on
until the combined strength Of the
whole people under the organized re-
serves can be quickly brought togeth-
er, organized and equipped to push,
our cause to successful conclusion.
Defense Test Day had two main
detectives.
To check up the plan of each unit
as to housing, feeding, recruiting.
equipment, care of the sick, etc., and
to let our citizens visualize the part
each would have to play should, a
great emergency so demand. It, need
hardly be pointed out that in casei Off
an emergency the community ,iso af-
fected as well as the organization =.
Units have been allocated to terri
torial areas according to population.
The sons of the community will in
the emergency constitute the man
power of the units. Thus it is seen
that the community has g. vital in
terest in the execution Of the plan;
that the plan is defensive; that it is.
voluntary; that it is a citizen army
and belongs to the people.
At 6:15 the National Guards as.
sembled at the Armory and with the
citizenary company numbering nearly
one hundred which consisted of BUSH.
mess and professional men of the city
who had volunteered their services to
"M". company for Defense Day, and
undaunted by the downpour of rain..
marched to the library, headed by the
Sank Centre band and Boy Scouts
where they stood retreat at $3.50. At
ter retreat the volunteers were per-
sonaily thanked by Captain Roy J.. ],
Scott for their days service, and
dismissed.
At 1850 the local Machine Gun
Company demonstrated a night fire
problem on the east short of Sank
Lake in which four machine guns
were used. This proved to be most
Interesting and was witnessed by a,
large number. OF those present at
/ this demonstration, few with the ex-
ception of former guards and ex-ser-
vice men, had ever witnessed the
firing of machine guns.
In opening the barrage the gum
liners commenced with slow fire, now
and then intermitting, and concluded
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