Evening star., 1924-09-10

On Friday-Defense Test day-there
will be a class quiz in Americas ma
tional college, of which DR.. Experience
is head. "Prexy" has told US, in his CEN
tury of lectures, that many lives would
have been spared and great wealth
saved if the Nation had been prepared
to defend the right at the outset of pre-
vious wars. The experiment has never
had a laboratory test. How well have
we learned the theoretical principles?
Nearly one-half Of the men of Amer
ica are outside the limits of military
age. At least one-half the men of mill
tary age are barred from participating
in Defense day tests, for they are not
physically fit to meet the strenuosity of
military service. One-quarter of the
men of military age who are physically
fit could not read an order nor write
the simplest report; they would be
menace to the country if intrusted with
the responsibilities of war. The others
(about 10 per cent of our total male
population) must be ready for duty
when physical incapacity and ignorance
fail. No estimate can be made Of how
or weaklings morally or patriotically-
or are traitors.
What civilian would have supposed
that our national defense could have
such shrinkages? And Of the 10 per
cent what organizing and training are
absolutely essential to convert the help
less mob into an army and navy?
X X 4
Gen. John j. Pershing says:
This country has always been fight
ing the fire with a bucket; we have
never employed modern means of meet
ing an emergency in war Defense day
will be form of inspection. We shall
see just what our powers Of defense
really are. 1t is just like the fire COM
pany's examination of its hose.
1t is up to the citizen to be the soldier
when occasion calls. I am speaking. Of
course, primarily, of every man who is
physically able to serve as a soldier.
There are 100000 such noen-a third
of the men in any comm, nifty, be it
large as New York or as small as a
country village. There can be
no difference between soldier and citi-
zen. And side by side with the realiza-
ton of this fundamental truth we must
realize that we have failed of our duty
as citizens if we volunteer for service
only when war actually arrives. Wars
don't wait. They come upon a nation
with the suddenness of thunderstorm
in a clear day"
with malice toward none, with
charity for all, with firmness in the
right as God has given us to see
the right, let US finish the work
we are in, to do all which may
achieve a just and lasting peace
among ourselves and witt, all ma
tions."
So spake our war President, Abra-
ham Lincoln. There is no word OF
either hate or pacifism in Llncolnfs
appeal-only frnness in the face OF
duty.
Neither was there militarism in
President Woodrow Wilson's message
Of war:
1--WE have no selfish ends to serve.
We desire no conquest, no DOMINION.
We seek no indemnities for ourselves,
no material compensation for the
sacrif1ces we shall freely make"
In a recent reply to a pacihst at
tack on Defense day, President Cool
idge said:
sI have been unqualif1edly sympa-
thetic with the aim and purpose to
make war, as nearly as might be, an
impossibility In this world.
Instead of being a military gesture,
this plan is exactly the opposite. 1t
is a non -militaristic gesture for the
purpose of keeping down TO its low.
est point u professionaa military orr