Evening star., 1924-09-10
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

ganization. Our country has always
relied chiefly for its defense on the
readiness of it's patriotic manhood to
take up arms when necessity pre-
sented."
few leaders of the so-called
peace societies have vision to see
that Defense day test is but a sane
act in taking account of our re-
sources to safeguard peace. Secre-
tary Call, of the American Peace So
ciety. writes that he has concluded
Defense day test is wholly de-
sirable."
With everything I have, or am.
devoted to the cause of international
peace, | am not able to follow these
critics (of Defense Test day). Since
the nations of the world are living in
state of international anarchy, il
does not occur to me that the United
states can afford to scrap it's Army
or Navy Were we to do away with
either of them, the cause of interna-
tlonal peace would not be benefited:
rather the contrary. 1t is neither
saie nor wise to seek the disarma-
ment of America alone"
How many misguided Americans
are crying Peace, Peace." when there
is no peace
marGn
or the sun around the globe when
that sun does not look from its
zenith upon battle. Asia Minor il
reeklng in blood. The Balkans are
ahame with war. The Sudan is
Egypt's and England's field of con-
MET English against the Sudanese.
ana possibly against the French.
IN the Sudan. Honduras is in civil
revolution: so is Brazil Mexico mas
its I.r
archy. China. with its 400, 900, 600 peo-
PIE: is plunging its soldiery into
clVli war. Soviet Russia's millions Of
ooisneVlki are pledged, and fanatic
ally determined, to overturn all the
organized governments of the world,
connscate the property of private
owners, destroy society and family,
, anu per'ere all religions and moralties.
AS we recount the glory of our sec
ond war against England, we say lit
tie of the capture of Washington City
by the enemy and of our defeat at
the battle of Rladensburg There
were loyal Americans in those days
who talked pacifsm as do those of
their descendants today
War was declared against England
June IS, 1872. Coast towns from
Maine to the Carolinas were captured
Ill.
Washington City was threatened, In
August, 1914, history records tha.
President James Madison rushed to
the defense-by calling a cabinet
meeting. The members were not in
favor of harsh measures" but it was
decided to notify the Governors of
Pennsylvania, Virginia and MARYLAND
Of the impending peril.
Pennsylvania could do nothing. for
its last Legislature had repealed its
militia law. However. after the Brit
ish had burned the Capitol, Pennsyl-
vania sent an unframed army of 900.
Virginia sent a detachment to aid in
repulsing the invaders at Bladens-
burg, but the flints for their guns
were left behind. Maryland fought.
though the degree of their preuara-
tion may be indicated by the diary OF
one who says he fought in dancing
pumps. Anyhow, he fought The de-
Tending army" SO gathered, consist
ed of 5000 volunteers and 400 regu-
lars; but the detachment of 1900 Brit
ish trained troops walked right
through the defending army" almost
before it discovered any opposition
from f1intless guns and dancing
pumps.
Today war has become so greatly a
matter of science, with such machin-
cry. munitions and chemicals, that
that army which, figuratively speak
ing, forgets it's "flints" is beaten in
advance, regardless of opposing num-
bers or OF personal prowess. Victory