Evening star., 1935-04-06
ARMY DAY PARADE
MUSTERS $4,000
UNDER MISTY SKY
18th Anniversary of U. S.
Entrance in World War
Commemorated.
HONORS PAID FOES
OF GREAT CONFLICT
Wreaths Placed in Tribute to
Leaders Who Voted for
Neutrality.


lowering skies this afternoon and
marched in a giant Army day parade
down newly developed Constitution
avenue in commemoration Of the
eighteenth anniversary Of American
entry into the World War.
The threatening clouds and fog,
which prevented the participation
Of SO military airplanes from Langley
Field, did not promise more than
trace of rain this afternoon, the
Weather Bureau said as the parade
got under way.
officials at Langley Field Cancelled
plans to dispatch the A pursuit planes
and "a bombers fueled and wait
ing for the flight to Washington. Fly
ing conditions were bad and a low
ceiling prevailed all along the route.
Colder Weather Forecast.
The current forecast is for cloudy
and colder weather this afternoon
and tonight, with minimum of about
So degrees tonight. While there was
no indication that the fog will lift
this afternoon. weather men reas-
sured parade spectators that only a
trace" of rain would fall-possibly
none at all.
While memorial wreaths we're de-
posted this morning by the National
Council for the Prevention of War in
Statuary Hall in honor of congress
sional leaders who opposed the entry
of the United States into the World
War Army leaders emphasized that
todays observance was not to glorify
war.
1T is not my conception of Army
day that it proposes to glorify war;"
said Secretary of War Dern. Rather,
it is my view that the intent of
Army day is to focus attention on the
constitutional mandate that one Of
the primary duties of Government is
to provide for the common defense.
Defense Mandate Recalled.
THE Army, as one of the branches
Of Government devoted to common
defense, utilities Army day to place on
public inspection throughout the
country the various services it in
cludes. and to reflect as nearly as may
be the extent to which our Govern
ment is Observing the constitutional
mandate relating to common defense"
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, Army
chief Of staff. declared the Army is
happy to note a distinct effort to in
sure. through the public press and
otherwise. a universal understanding
of the true significance of the day.
April 6 came first by its designa-
ton of Army day through its selection
by patriotic societies as significant
date on which annually to focus pop
ular attention upon the essentials of
our Nations security problem. Since
then the day has come also to be Off
cially and popularity recognized as the
Army's anniversary date.
Army Proud of Position.
The Army feels. therefore. that it
takes part in the days exercises In
the capacity of a guest Justifiably
proud of its position as possession
and trusted servant of our Government
and our people. the Army looks upon
the day as one on which the public
should be offered special opportunity
to inspect. examine and become more
closely acquainted with its soldiers,
both professional and civilian To
this end, it ceases fCl the day its Gus
tomary routine of duties and places
itself both locally and nationally at
the complete disposal of the American
citizenry
For the Army itself the day is
one of self elf-rededication to the service
Of the country it is sworn to defend.
The wreathS were laid at the foot
of statues of the late Senator Robert
M. La Toilette, sr. late Speaker of
the House Champ Clark and the late
Representative Claude Kitchin of
North Carolina. three leaders in the
fight to prevent American entry into
the war.
Six Senators and so Representatives
voted against war in 1917. OF these
% are still living and still are in
Congress. Senator George w. Norris.
Representative Ernest Lundeen and
Representative Harold Knutson.
Sons of the three men honored by
memorial services were invited as
special guests. Senator Robert M. La
Toilette, Senator Bennett Champ
Clark and Mills Kitchin. Letters of
tribute were sent to all 90 peace
advocates still living.
Miss Rankin in Group.
Miss Jeannette Rankin. who as Rep
resentative from Montana, was the
only woman to vote against the war
declaration. was in the group bearing
wreaths this morning.
I'D vote the same as I did before"
said Senator Norris prior to the me-
mortal exercise. 1--WE made lots of
mistakes since I've been in Congress,
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