Palisadian., 1925-07-03

spending to the muster call and the further fac,
that there is no provision in the law for the De
tense day program at any time. Ii such military
stock-takng 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 ap-
propriate legislation.
Another thing that bothers the President is that
the proposed program necessitates the expenditure
of considerable money by the government and I'M
poses upon the states great direct expense, not
to 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 dscouraging adequate preparedness. He
Ia an earnest advocate of that but he Is just as
earnest in his advocacy of government economy.
The President would have the governors OF
states consulted as to 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 a
preference for July as the day on which the
nroposed national defense test could be most ap-
propriatey held. Then the question arose In the
War department whether plans could be recon
structed in time to utilize July this year. Many
officers 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
in the short time available. They believed that
rather than risk a failure, 1t would be preferable
to postpone the holding of defense test until
July A, 1926.
It was pointed out also that the regular army.
National Guard reservsts and the citizens mill
tary training camps would be engaged in July in
their regular training programs, and these would
be seriously interfered with If defense test was
held at that time. To assure an organized and
successful demonstration, 1t Is said to be vital
that the personnel of these four branches be in
their respective home communities at the time the
plans are made that they can cooperate with
the national leaders in charge
So at this writing 1t seems Impossible to say
inst what figure the Defense day test will cut in
the independence day celebration. 1t quite a
large performance last year, according to War
department reports. These show that there were
e.535 local demonstrations, and that more than
100000 people participated In one way or
another. The regular army turned out 92,5S1
officers and men, the National Guard 1877 633. and
the organized reserves 59,16S.
Fourth of July orators this year In search Of a
theme have wide choice They might do worse
than to speak of some of the changes that 150
vears have made. The r-Spanged Banner Of
1929 as compared with the Bunker Hill flag is s.
gorgeous theme. suggestive Of the political prog
ress of the nation. In 1775 we had nothing but
little prvateers under sail to fight battles on
sea Today we have a proud navy of which the
California is a fine sample. The increase in popu-
lation and material wealth is suggested by the
picture showing the little book Of the second
census as compared with the big volumes of the
fourteenth. When Gen. George Washington took
command of the Continental armies July at
Cambridge fife and drum corps furnished the
martial music. BY way of contrast see the army
band of today-with the New York of 1925 loom
ing high in the background! All these suggest
the growth of the United States OF America from
the thirteen colonies of 1775 to the weathiest and
most powerful nation of earth-the one nation
dedicated to liberty, equal rights and the pursuit
of happiness