Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-07-02

spending to the muster call and the further fact
that there is no provision In the law for the De-
Tense day program az any tune. II such military
stock-taking Of resources provided under the
national defense act Is to be undertaken annually
President Coolidge thinks congress should be con-
suited and should approve 1t by providing APP
propriate legislation
Another thing that bothers the President IL that
the proposed program necessltates the expenditure
Of considerable money by the government and i'm
poses upon the states a great direct expense mol
10 mention the indirect cost involved through the
interruption OF business that would be entailed In
carrying out the proposal
The President does not want to appear as in
any way discouraging adequate preparedness he
ID an earnest advocate Of that. but he is just as
earnest In hls advocacy OF government economy
The President would have the governors OF
states consulted as 10 their wishes in the matter
The states must cooperate, OF course, and are re
lied upon by the War department to do their share
In making Defense day success.
The result was that the President expressed .
preference for July as the day on which the
proposed national defense test could be most APP
proprIateIy held Then the question arose In the
War department whether plans could be recon
atructed In time TO utilize July this year Many
s of6cerg connected with the test last September
felt that It would be better to abandon the plans
this year rather than attempt TO arrange the test
Ia the short time available. They believed that
rather than risk failure II would be preferable
10 postpone the holding Of q defense test until
July 4. 1925
II was pointed out also that the regular army;
National Guard. reserviats and the citizens milf
tary training camps would be engaged In July Ia
their regular training programs and these would
be seriously interfered with n defense test was
=held=af that time To assure an organized and
successful demonstration. It IL said to be Vital
that the personnel Of these four branches be in
their respective home communities at the time the
plans are made. 50 that they can cooperate with
the national leaders In charge
SO AT this writing IL seems impossible to say
lust what figure the Defense day test win cut In
the Independents day celebration II was quite
large performances last year. according TO War
department reports. These show that there were
a6g5 local demonstrations and that more than
100000 people participates in one way or
another The regular army turned out 02,681
officers and men, the National Guard 167,6SS and
the organized reserves 5o,10s.
Fourth of July orators this year in search OF
theme have a wide choice. They might do worse |
shau 70 speak OF some Of the changes that $50 /
Years have made. The Star-spangied Banner Of
1925 a. compared with the Bunker HnI dag is a
gorgeous theme, suggestive Of the political prog
ress Of the nation. In IT'S we had nothing but
IIttIe priYateers nnder sail to light battles
uen. To-day we have q proud navy. Of which the
california In a nna sample. The increases IN popu-
Iafion and material wealth IL suggested BY the
nlcture showing the little book Of the second
census as compared with the big volumes OF the
eourteenrh When Gen George Washington took
command Of the Continental armles July at
Cambridge a nfe and drum corps furnished khs
martial music. BY way Of contrast zee the army
band Of today--wffh the New York Of 1925 loom
ing high IN the background All these suggest
he growth OF the United States Of AmeF1ea from
the thirteen colonfsn OF 1775 70 the wealtest and
most powerful nafion OF earth-fhe one nation
to liberty, equal rights and the pursuit
u happiness.