Evening star., 1942-04-06
Army Day Here
Goes Without
Beat Of Drums
Air Fighter Force
On DispIoy at
National Airport

This Is Army Day-the anniVer-
sary of Americas s declaration of wal
on Germany in 19l7-and grim
preparations for an offensive in the
new war overshadowed the usual
pageantry,
Army posts scattered between the
oceans and from Canada to the Gull
were too busy training for the con-
f7ict to give much thought to the
25th recurrence of the historic date
though there were parades in some
cities and displays of military might
to which the public was invited.
The day passed in the Capital it.
self without a martial procession
The nearest military parade was in
Baltimore, where large contingents
of troops and equipment from Fort
George G. Meade. Md, and from
Edgewood Arsenal had been as
sembled.
Fighting Planes at Airport.
But q force OF fighting planes
like those that are performing SO
valiantly in the South Pacific, were
on exhibition at the National Air
port. The craft, including flying
fortresses and other types of bomb
ers and escort fighters, few in at
noon and remained on display dur
ing the afternoon. The planes were
there yesterday also and attracted
an immense crowd. The Army Air
Force Band scheduled a concert
from 2 to 3 pm, today.
The planes were brought in by
the ferry command. Today's show
was slated to last from noon to 4
pm, with the planes lined up for
inspection by the public from the
airport balconies.
In nearby Bethesda civilian de-
fense units of Montgomery County
will stage their own Army Day
parade up Wisconsin avenue tonight.
Auxiliary fire departments of Glen
Echo, Chevy Chase and Silver
Spring, the Women's Defense Corps,
the Montgomery County Red Cross
Ambulance Corps and the Chevy
Chase First Aid Corps and nurses
are to pass in review, along with the
Bethesda Auxiliary Fire Depart
ment, which is sponsoring the event.
The parade, marching 10 music by
the Boys Band of the Metropolitan
Police, the Elks' Club and Leland
Junior High School, is to form at
Bradley Lane and Wisconsin avenue
at o'clock, move up Wisconsin ave-
nue. to Old Georgetown road, thence
past the reviewing stand at the
Bethesda Firehouse.
Stimson Sounds Victory Call.
Secretary of War Stimson, in a
broadcast yesterday, thus spoke of
Army Day:
Our soldiers in the jungles of
Bataan, our air men in the skies
over Burma and the East Indies,
have already written immortal pages
in the history of the American
Army. With their spirit inspiring the
people, we can and will win this
war"
Mr.. Stimson added: IF we on our
home front follow their example, the
malignant and skillful efforts of our
enemies TO divide us by spreading
false suspicious and prejudices
among our ranks will inevitably
fail"
In another radio address, Paul v.
McNutt, social security administra-
tor, told civilians to quit trying to
fight the war from arm chairs and
get to work" He asked:
What can the citizen at home do
to make the Army a stronger Army? ?
For one thing, he can stop trying to
run that Army-and the country
from his armchair. Remember, men
at work mean tanks, guns, bullets
planes. Men days lost from work be-
cause of conditions in your town
poor housing, poor sanitation, i'm
proper food, inadequate rest and
recreation-may mean the difference
between victory and defeat. It is
your job to keep these men on the
job"
Banquet Here Tonight.
The Military Order of the World
War, which sponsors Army Day, will
hold its annual banquet at 7:30 pm
at the Mayflower Hotel
A bust of Gen. Douglas Macarthur
will be unveiled at the hotel at Sis
pm. The ceremony will be broad
cast to Gen. MacArthur's head
quarters in Australia.
The principal speaker at the din.
ner will be 1t. Gen Brehon B
Somerven, chief of the Service OF
Supply. Sergt. Carl E. Pitt, jr viii
be honored as the typical American
soldier" Sergt. Pitt is from Be-
theSda
Many Army posts held open house
today. with equipment on display
and soldiers ready to receive rela-
tives and other visitors. These sta
tions included Fort Belvoir. Va.
Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving