San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-13
BY JUNIUS b. WOOD.

and the Chicago Daily News
Copyright, 1924.
Washington, ID. g., April 12.-
Americas greatest demonstration in
patriotism and preparedness is set
Tor September Rehabilitation Day,
as it is to be called. On that day IN
every city and hamlet of the United
States, in field and factory and outly-
ing island possessions, wherever the
stars and stripes are unfurled, citi-
zens are called upon to offer their ser
vices to their country just as if an
actual war, instead of a make-beileve
war, had been declared. All the vast
cembatant potentialities of the nation
will be modified to show what its
citizen would do and its military or
ganization could do if the national
emergency arose. The day will mark
itself national holiday.
The intention is that to nation
wide unarmed civilian maneuver shall
be an annual event. For this year, its
inaugural, it will be tribute TO Gen.
John j. Pershing, commander1n-chief
of the American Expeditionary Forces
during the war. 1t will also be his
ivalidictory as on the following day he
automatically retires from the office
of chief of staff which he has held
since the war and from active SER
vice in the United States army, hav-
ing reached the retiring age of "a
years.
First Practical Test.
Mobilization Day will be the first
practical test in which every man,
woman and child in the United States
will be concerned. The date selected is
the anniversary of the battle of St
Mihiel, September -, 1918, the first
operation of the American army in
France.
= The success of this day-a demon
stration of the organization of a ma
ton of 110,000,OO0 organizing of
which has been accomplished quietly,
efficiently, peacefully, almost unob-
served and unknown. without inter
ruption Of their productive pursuits
and depending only ON the ability and
voluntary patriotism of the men and
women-will, in the opinion of Cen
eral Pershing, be an achievement
greater than anything which he ac-
complished in France. Though the OPP
erations and training of the general
staff under Brig. Gen. Hugh A. Drum,
who, has been working on the plans
for several months and will have them
completed to the minutest detail be-
fore the date agreed upon, have been
surrounded with the strictest secrecy
in army circles, recent developments
have made it impossible to prevent
discussion in the capital and political
rankss
Capital Will observe.
On Mobilization Day, itself. how
ever. Washington or the War Depart
ment will not direct, but merely OBJ
Serve. The local communities and the
responsible local citizens will work
out the problem with the machinery
which is in their home cities Hd
towns. Except for militia company, 4
an occasional recruiting officer, a
graduate of an officers training camp
or reserve officer, none with defin-
itsduty in vast skeleton organiza-
ton, this machinery was not there
when the last war was declared.
: Mobilization Day will educate and
test the American public in the mean
ing and operation of the national de-
Tense act, the bulwark of the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and of the
nations defense. Each community
will have an opportunity to show what
it cansdo. The men and women who
already have pledged themselves as re-.
serve officers, members OF the ma
tional guard or otherwise, will show
bow efficiently they can direct the
work.
Plan Vast Program.
Headquarters will be established,
national guard companies will fill up
to full strength, volunteers for other
units will be enrolled and detailed
according to their individual qualifica-
tons, motor corps will he organized.
boy scouts and camp fire girls will
turn out. welfare organizations
will plan their activities and even fac
tories and other industries will be
modified to do their part in the ina
ginary war work. This is only
sketchy outline Of the vast program
for the day in every city and village.
Mobilization Day will show whether
the United States has.an organization
which can be the basis of a real citi-
zen's army, an economical and Demo-
cratic defense for the nation. The pub
lie will make its own test of itself.
The organization is lesson from
the war embodied in the national de-
Tense act. In former times when war
was declared, everybody who could not
rush to Washington, either telegraph
ed his congressman, offering to do
something, or enlisted at the nearest
recruiting station to be sent To a con-
centration camp for training. The men
lived under abnormal conditions and
the government staggered under the
expense, Under the present system
mobilization and the early stages of
s-ining will be in the home commun-
fly.
Newspapers and the radio will be