The Republican., 1941-04-17
Nationwide Morale
Building Is Purpose
Of Booklet Just Out
General Pershing Urges Every
American to Read "YOu Can
Defend America"

A streamlined "total defense" plan
for every American endorsed by Cen
eral John j. Pershing is out this week
on newsstands across the country. 1t
is contained in the covers of a 80
page, colorful, cartoon-illustrated
book called "You Can Defend Amer
ica." Leaders of Labor and Manage
ment have acclaimed it as a practical
program towards national unity and
the solution of industrial strife hold
ing up the national defense effort.
The first printing is one million
copies.
The veteran general of the United
States Armies who led the A. E. F.
overseas during the last war, has
turned a spotlight on the need for
civilian action to strengthen the ma
tion's inner lines of defense. He has
broken precedent to write a forceful
foreword to this book, urging every
American to read it and find his part
Sin the home, in industry, in every
walk of life"
With characteristic vigor and di-
rectness General Pershing writes:
"This little book is aptly titled You
Can Defend America No patriotic
citizen can read it without feeling its
inspiration. None can fail fully to in
dorse it's ultimate objective-the
preservation of our precious heritage.
1t invokes the principles of good
citizenship and the spirit of '76 and of
IT in this new emergency confront
ing our great democracy. How each
of us can do his part in the home, in
industry, in every walk of life, is in
dicated clearly and forcefully. l COM
mend its message to every Ameri-
can"
"You Can Defend America" was
prepared by citizen volunteers as a
national service, in collaboration with
Army and Navy officials and business
and labor leaders. Industrial organ
izations, unions and other groups are
sending copies to their memberships.
Readable in 12 minutes, the book is
being sold for 10 cents on the news
stands.
William Green, President of the
American Federation of Labor, gave
an indication of the widespread COW
erage planned for "You Can Defend
America" in a statement urging that
the book should get into "the hands
of every union man in the country"
He felt it would be a powerful stim-
ulus towards creating teamwork in
industry and general morale, which
are essential if our armed forces are
to have the backing they deserve.
Admiral Richard E. Byrd terms it a
Handbook on national defense" and
"a modern charter of Americanism.
Since his recent return from the
South Pole, the flying explorer has
cooperated actively in preparations
for the distribution of "You Can De-
fend America"
In a special statement he pointed
out that many of our people, especial
ly our youth, have no clear concep
ton of what America stands for or
what are the basic ideals we must be
prepared to defend. This new book, "
he declared, presents philosophy of
total defense for the nation. 1t is not
only attractive and convincing, but so
simple that anyone can understand
and act on it. 1t should fire the hearts
of all red-blooded Americans and stir
their wills to action"
"You Can Defend America" is de-
signed to make clear the need for ma
tional morale as a vital factor in total
defense, and to show every citizen
what he can do about it. At time
when everybody is talking about
national unity, this booklet seeks to
show how to achieve it and create
nation that "holds the secret of a
new world"
Its theme is summarized in the
striking center-page spread: "Amer-
lea needs CUTS as well as guns. Ma
tional character is the core of nation
al defense. Congress can't vote it.
Dollars won't buy it. 1t is your job to
build it"
The book calls frankly upon
America to change where change is
needed, to unite above barriers of
class, race and creed, to fight against
the dangers from within that already
threaten our national life and make
US vulnerable to attack from without.
The words and music of a new song
for national defense, with the same
title as the book, are also included.
"You Can Defend America" is the
springboard for a nationwide morale
building effort which "offers a plan
for every patriot and puts the heart
in national defense"