Evening star., 1935-11-25
FILIPINO DEFENSE
'ACT|SSUPPORTED
Leaders Indicate Approval
of Quezon's Plea for
Wartime Draft.
M the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press.
MANILA, P. l., November 25.-Na.
ktonal Assembly leaders Joined in sup
port today Of q sweeping defense act
which 1t was indicated would be the
first legislative measure approved by
the new Philippine commonwealth.
I Compulsory military training OF all
men, to prepare the islanders to de-
4end with arms the freedom they so
recently won peaceably. was urged
BY President Manuel Que1on in his
first message to the Assembly.
A canvass Of leading members dis
closed they favored the proposed ma
tional defense act, which would regt-
inent all industry in case of war and
require every man, woman and child
In the islands to take up arms.
Z Immediate Action Delayed.
But the legislators took no imme-
: diste action on the bill. Instead they
adjourned until tomorrow after hear
ing Quezon and debating resolution
attempting to restore powers to their
Speaker which they had agreed to
restrict before they we're ever called
,into session. Gil Montilla was named
Speaker.
i Quezon demanded that the Today
5old Commonwealth create standing
army of 10000 and train all its men
in warfare to serve notice that "these
islands are not to be subjugated."
= "Our objective" he said, sis a single
cne-peace-permanent peace"
8, The army would be trained under
the direction of Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur, former chief Of staff of the
United States Army, and now military
adviser to Quezon, who was under
stood to have prepared the defense
program.
Last Vice Governor Sails.
While Quezon was speaking before
the Assembly, j. Ralston Hayden, the
last American Vice Governor General
to the islands. sailed for home with
the comment:
1T have confidence in the dete-mi-
nation and ability Of the Filipino and
American people to make the Com
i1onwealth succeed and eventually Gre
ate a sound, prosperous, independent
nation"
With him was Gen. Frank Mcintyre,
former chief of the Bureau of InSular
Affairs. Hayden is returning to the
University of Michigan to resume his
political science professorship.
~ Other American notables who wit
messed the Inauguration Of the Com
monwealth are sailing tonight for
; home via Europe on the round-the-
Z world liner President Adams.
Mrs. Wheeler Receivers.
They are Clark Howell. Atlanta pub
Usher; Emil Hurja Of the National
Democratic Committee, Senator Bur-
ton K. Wheeler Of Montana, his wife
and daughter, and Senator Robert
r. Reynolds of North Carolina and
his daughter. Mrs. Wheeler is fully
recovered from an illness which kept
her confined to a hospital for several
days.
In his first address to the Assembly,
Quezon invoked as a first national
principle that mo man has the right
TO enjoy the privileges and opportuni-
ties Of free institutions unless
he simultaneously acknowledges his
duty to defend with his property and
with his life the government through
which he acquires these opportunities.
/: II propose its specific application to
our peace-time task Of preparation by
requiring every citizen Of suitable age
and physique to undergo military
training as an obligation to the state" ."
For the present, he said, there will
be no Philippine navy, for reasons Of
{ economy.
4s Proposed Plan Not Complex.
In organization the proposed de-
tense plan is simple. The chief Of staff
would be selected by and directly re-
sponsible to the President, with the
rank of cabinet secretary. Reserve
units would be scattered through the
Islands in proportion to population.
The national territory would be di-
ivided into military districts and sub
districts.
L Training periods normally would ex-
tend over flve-and-a-hah months, ex-
2cept for the regular army. Thereafter
for 10 years each trainee would be re-
sduired to undergo annually sufficient
training to preserve efficiency.
Int. Pleasant w. C.. T. TT. To Meet.