Evening star., 1925-07-03
CAPITAL IS READY
FOR CALL To ARMS
IN DEFENSE TEST
Plans Completed Today for
Nationwide Muster of
Potential Force.
II MAJOR GENERALS HERE
FOR CONFERENCE TODAY
21,000 Expected to Enlist for
Day in District-Participa-
tion Simplifed.

Washington and the Nation COM
pleted plans today for the dual OBJ
serVanc of the 4th of July and Ma
tional Defense Test day tomorrow.
The War Departments prepare
tions for the Nationwide muster end
ed this morning with conference of
the heads of all branches and sections
of the department. This meeting was
called by Maj. Gen. John l.. Hines.
chief of staff, to examine tomorrow
program, and it was described by its
sponsors as preliminary muster of
the War Department itself
Seventeen major generals were in
cluded among the % officers summon
ed to the conference, similar depart
mental muster having been held by
Gen. Pershing's direction just prior to
the nrst defense test last September
In a statement explaining the reason
for the conference Gen. Hines pointed
out that the departments plans un-
der the national defense act really
constituted a scheme for putting the
country into complete state of de-
ever.
Plans Here Important.
Naturally, among the most impor-
eral sections Of the general staff and
OF the several branches Of the War
Department in Washington" Gen.
Hines said. These offices will have
to administer the expansion of our
national forces. To do this they will,
or course, have to expand themselves.
Unless their unit plans are carefully
and logically drawn the offices cannot
expand with rapidity and efficiency.
Unless they are able to SO expand the
expansion of all other units OF the
Army will be deficient.
The progress in planning has been
generally satisfactory. While the
plans have not vet been completed,
they have been carried sufficiently FAR
to permit their functioning on the out
break of an emergency. In fact, we
nave now reached the stage when the
general basis of the plans has been
stabilized, and what is now wanted is
suggestions for improvements in
specific details.
The inspection and muster OF a
company, held periodically, exercises
beneficial effects alike on the com.
! pany commander. the individual mem
bers of his company and the morale
OF his organization. Todays confer
ence is a muster OF the War Depart-
ment."
ID. C. Expected to Lead.
The Army is looking to Washing
ton to lead the country in the de-
fensive muster. Brig. Gen. Samuel D.
Rockenbach, commander Of the Dis.
trict OF Washington, announced today
that enlistments in the District of
Columbia for the test should exceed
21 900. Gen. Rockenbach's Office will
remain open throughout the day to
receive reports from headquarters of
the Organized Reserve and District
National Guard, both Of which are ex-
pected to receive large quotas of one
day recruits.
Participation in National Defense
Test day has been considerably simpli-
fed. Those wishing to take a really
active part may attend any of the
meetings that are to be held at the Ma
tional Guard Armory, the Washington
Auditorium and reserve headquarters,
the latter locate at Fourteenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue. Officers of
the Organized Reserve will attend the
meeting at the Washington Audi
torium.
Those who cannot devote several
hours TO one of these meetings, but
wish to indicate their willingness to
assist the War Department in test
ing out the Nations defensive ma
chine need only go to the fire engine
homes and there register. Signing
of the roster obligates the one-day re-
cruits in no manner. but simply gives
the Army chiefs some idea of the
man-power that could be raised over
night should an emergency arise.
In the meantime, every section of
Washington is prepared to welcome
the Fourth of July once more. AS
| usual. the programs for the day will
/ Fa av,l aIH
ing out the spirit of America s
birthday, separate programs having
| been planned in different parts of the
! city.
The Air Service exhibition at Bc4l
ing Field, beginning at o'clock, will
prove one of the most attractive fea
lures of the day. 1t will enable the
! people to watch that important
| branch of the service in action under
assumed wartime conditions, and be-
sides providing a liberal education on
| the conquest of the air, it probably
will provide more thrills in five min
utes than could be found elsewhere
| in a day.
400 New Citizens.
| Four hundred new citizens are ex-
( pected to take the oath of allegiance
! TO the flag of the United States at the
J C6leDraIlOn at o y ClOCh lOiItOktON
| ming in the stadium of Central High
! Community Center These young men
and women have been registering dur
! ing the past two weeks.
In this impressive ceremony they
viii be led by Brig. Gen. George Rich
ards, u. s. NJ. c., who has been offi-
cially designated by the Board of Com
missioners OF the District to administer
the OATH Following the oath each
! new citizen viii be presented with
copy of the Constitution of the United
| States by Jesse G. Suter, president of
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions.
The program for the celebration at
/ Central High School will be one of the
most pretentious ever offered here.
Swearing in OF the new citizens will
represent but one phase of it. and the
full list of events to be presented fol-
lows:
| Program Of Exercises.
| The program for the exercises at
/ Central High Community Center to-.
morrow night at 5 o'clock follows:
PART /.
| to S:30-Special concert by the