Evening star., 1925-07-04
PATRIOTS RALLY
TO NATIONS CALL
FOR DEFENSE TEST
Youth of Capital Quietly Reg
lister as u. S. Celebrates
Its Natal Day.
AMERICANISM KEYNOTE
OF MANY EXERCISES
Communities Holding Lengthy
Programs as Army Heads
Gather Manpower Data.

Washington is celebrating today the
l49th anniversary of the signing OF
the Declaration of independence with
d renewed pledge to defend and pre-
serve American democracy as it was
founded by the forefathers in 1875.
" nile community programs got
under way throughout the city, the
eyes of the National Capital were
turned on the outcome of the second
test OF national defense plans. and
Washington's manhood began re.
spending early to the one-day call 10
arms.
Theoretically all America began
mastering for war at daybreak today.
and, although no estimate was made
OF the number of men between the
ages of Is and As who volunteered for
service, indications obtained in Wash
lngton were that the War Depart
ments program TO test the Nation s
defensive machinery would go over,
the top with room to spare
washington led the Nation in help
ing the general staff make good its
prediction that a volunteer force. Of
nearly a million and a half men could
be raised overnight. Early morning
saw volunteers hurrying TO police
stations, fire engine houses and other
Nationwide StOcktaking.
Similar scenes are being enacted in
practically every community in the
country, even towns and villages.
some of them scarcely larger than
crossroads settlements, joining in the
one-day muster to determine the
strength of Americas available de.
Tense. 1t is a Nationwide stock
taking process from which the War
Department expects 10 obtain some
vastly important data with which 10
improve national defense processes.
The first indication of what the
test may show when the final figures
have been tabulated may be taken
from the response to the 12lst Engi-
neer Regiment appeal for volun-
teers. The regiment needed some
thing short Of 800 men to bring its
complement up TO war strength ana
thus put ii on a war footing for the
one-day test.
Before 10 o'clock this morning the
muster of the headquarters and serv-
ice company, commanded by Capt
Sidney Morgan, had attracted enough
recruits to bring the roster of that
company alone up to $50 men. The
war strength of the company being
only 40 men, the others were turned
over to the regiment and resulted in
its being recruited more than 100 men
over it's war complement.
The 29th Company Of Military Police
was experiencing a similar response
at the National Guard Armory A
total of 76 men had been recruited for
the day long before noon and il was
taken for granted that before the day
ended the company would pass its re
quired quota. These were the only
two instances available early, but they
may give some inkling of how the
call is being accepted.
Expect Smaller Total.
Army officials. however. frankly do
not expect the response this time TO
equal that of September. when l.
500, 900 men enrolled for the first ma
tional defense test. They were conf
dent, however, that even should the
total fall far short of these figures
enough data will be obtained to insure
sound and practical development of
the next stage of the general staff's
planning.
No glamour or display marked the
muster. 1t was carried out just as
quietly as an ordinary recruiting eX-
pedition. Civilian volunteers simply
went to the various enrolment places,
while officers of the organized reserve
gathered at the Washington Audito-
rum. At the latter place, Maj Gen.
Drum delivered an address, but else
where recruiting officers were the only
officials present.
In the meantime, the National Capt.
tai went ahead with its usual varied
Fourth of July program. Nearly every
community in Washington had some
sort of a celebration to take the place
N t.41 hu
seems to have passed completely as a
part of Independence day. Only occa-
sionally did the bang of a firecracker
disturb the peace Of the prepared pro-
grams, and tonight there will be am
pie displays of fireworks, given by the
various communities and surrounded
by adequate protective measures.
Americanism Is Keynote.
The keynote of speeches was true
AmeriCanlSm and preservation of the
ideals of democracy as enunciated by
the founders in 1776. Mai. Gen. Amos
A. Fries, chief of the chemical warfare
service, in an address before the ASso-
citation of Oldest Inhabitants, at
Western Presbyterian Church, ap-
pealed for a renewed pronouncement
of confident in the American form of
government and a determined stand
against the radical forces from Europe
that. he said. seek to undermine it.
Takoma Park opened its 4th of
July program at s O'Clock this morning
with public flag raising exercises.
Patriotic addresses. athletic contests,
parades and similar exhibitions are to
continue almost without interruption
until o'clock tonight. when a display
of fireworks begins. Petworth has a
similar and equally ambitious pro.
gram for the day.
Air Circus Planned.
Boiling Field will be the center OF
attraction foy many persons beginning
at 2 o'clock this afternoon, when an
air circus of exceptional interest is
to be staged by the Army Air Service
This circus will demonstrate some of
the achievements of the Air Service
during the past year and will give the
crowds an opportunity to observe air.
planes operating under wartime con-
ditionS.
Washington independence day
celebration will come to a close this
evening with the most pretentious
program of the day In the Central
High School Stadium. During this pro-
gram 400 men and women win take
the oaths that make them American
citizens. The first number will be a
concert by the United States Army
GCoptkpuad ~ poUa q r1I,,--- a.