Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1917 — PREPARING FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE [ARTICLE]

PREPARING FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE

New England Takes Lead in Voluntary Work to Aid Nation in War. MONEY AND SERVICES GIVEN New Hampshire^Appropriates $500,000 —States Appoint Committees on 1 Public Safety—Home Guards Urged Everywhere. New York. March 23.—With the entire nation preparing for any eventuality. New. England took the lead in voluntary work in the cause of national defense. States and indivdifals cont rlbuted money and services?. The leading activities reported are: Boston —New England’s mobilization for preparedness proceeded rapidly during the day. ? New Hampshire appropriated $500,000 for defense, and Maine and Vermont through their governors appointed committees on public safety. The legislature of New Hampshire and the Vermont house of representatives indorsed universal military training. GOvernor Graham of Vermont announced that he would ask the legislature to vote a credit for defense. Governor McCall sent a special message to the Massachusetts legislature recommending the creation of a home guard to be raised in time of war. Alien Enemy Act in A bill to compel the registration of the subjects of countries with which the United States is, at war, or with which war is imminent, was introduced in the legislature. It is provided that such registration be made within 24 hours after the governor Issues a proclamation. \ The Rhode Island house of representatives passed a resolution indorsing universal obligatory military and naval training. All along the New England coastline the greatest activity was shown. So prompt has been the response to the calls for recruits that the heads of official and civilian committees had their hands full in examining, enrolling and assigning those who could be of service. Men, women, Boy Scouts and girls made up the volunteers. More than 1,000 women have been enrolled. Another call for aviators was made at Boston and five new units of coast defense resene men from Tufts college were added to the force already being trained. A unit of 30 experienced wireless operators, all women and girls, already had been enrolled in the coast defense reserve corps.

Home Guards Everywhere. Washington —Representative E. R. Bathrick of Ohio sent to Secretary of War Baker a letter which was later made public by the Army League of the United States, urging the immediate organization of home guards throughout the country for use in any emergency. “Such organizations,” the latter said, “could readily be recruited from citizens not available for regular service. They would serve to protect bridges, public buildings, railroads /Shd munition plants. This would release the militia and regular soldiers to protect our coasts and perform more active service.” Governor Cox of Ohio telephoned the White House that Ohio would do everything in its power in the present emergency. Technical Men to Serve U. S. Philadelphia—Tfie services of mapy thousand alumni of specialized training, representing 50 of the leading universities, colleges and technical schools throughout the country, were tendered to the United States government by Dr. William McClellan, director of the Intercollegiate Intelligence bureau. N. Y. Defense Council Planned. Albany—The appointment by the governor of a state council of defense Is the object of a bill introduced in the legislature^lts duties would include the mobilization of state industries for the manufacture of munitions and military supplies and arranging for railroad and automobile transportation of troops. ' Busy in North Carolina. Charlotte, N. C.—Mayor T. L. Kirkpatrick issued a proclamation calling upon every able-bodied male citizen of Charlotte and Mecklenburg county who will bear arms if the nation becomes involved in war to enroll. Women were asked to volunteer for Red Cross service and industrial plants to list what “sacrifices and equipment they will make” for the government.