Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-09-13
DEFENSE DAY IN
BROWNSVILLEIS
HUGE SUCCESS
Many Attend Program
at Fort Brown; Big
Parade Passes Down
Streets

Defense day plan and programs were
carried out successfully YESTERDAY. and
at the conclusion Of registration the
rolls were turned over to the post adj
Jutant, Captain Charles Miller, at Fort
Brown in order that list of the ey-
service men might be obtained. and the
names of those willing to pledge their
loyalty kept on file at the post. Totals
registered were lilo men and ISL wo-
men.
Leaving the post wall at $3.50. the
Twelfth Cavalry baird led parade
which was one Of the features Of the en-
tire program. Stores in Brownsville
closed promptly. and the streets we're
soon thronged with onlookers. as the
parade progressed down Washington
street. and came back Elizabeth street,
swelling its numbers at every point
with the addition of more units.
The procession was led BY ear in
which Corporation Judge A. Celaya,
Chief Of Police Linton, Lieutenant Of
Police Armstrong, and r. T.. Starck, Sec
retary Of the school board. rode. In
the second car were Mayor A. b. Cole.
and Il. Crcager.
The colors headed the parade proper.
followed by the Twelfth Cavalry band.
after which came the cavalry troops.
The American Legion, carrying the col
ors Of the order. fell in behind the cav
airy units, and were followed by other
civilians who desired to parade
Following these units Of the process
sion came the high school, the junior
high school. the Catholic schools, and
the grammar school. Children from St
Joseph's College all carried flags, and
also banner on which was written.
Ready 60 Serve"
The theory that a million men wohd
spring to arms over night should Am
erica ever be invaded has been proven
a faIlacy time after time and in order
TO make something like this possible the
national defense act was framed in
1920. Harbert Davenport told the large
suiience assembled at Fort Brown pa
vilicn last night to celebrate the day.
Should a million men so desire there
would be no arms to which they could
spring" he said, land after they had
sprung 80 per cent of them would be
physically unable TO march three miles
on their own feet. No provision for food.
ahmH VI NNAAh ~ HitAAN
without "from sunrise to sunset" with
out the defense act.
"Armistice Day, the Fourth Of July
and all our other holidays are looking
backward, but Defense Day IL for the
purpose of looking forward The st.
kMihiel drive, which was the beginning
Of the end Of the World War. came rs
months after our country had entered
the struggle and this glorious victory
was woEyat an unnecessarily high price
in men. imunitions, time and money
With proper preparedness the war could
have been shortened many months and
thereby many lives saved and heart
aches prevented.
"The revolution Of 17T6 could have
been greatly shortened had the country
been prepared for war and Washington's
men would have had less suffering and
hunger; the country would not have
hecn almost completely devastated. Brit
ish troops. numerically inferior, would
rot have been able to drive the Amer
lean forces at will. AS they were, had
Aey been properly trained. and il would
ne have been necessary 70 get the
Fr,nxh 70 help wear them out.
RE Defense act Is framed TO satisfy
~. desire of our citizens 10 maintain
onIv ! nucleus Of trained men and pro-
r;dcs for the national guard. under the
control Of the various states; the ma,
.;an.l army. under federal control and
only large enough for police detN ana
.s a training school; and for the cit
tons reserve. Under this plan the re-
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