first exhelon of defense and the libber our second line on which our main dependence
must rest in case we become involved in an emergency of any magnitude.
"The Act further provides that it shall be the duty of the bar Department.
1 "To prepare plans for naxionai defense and tne use of the fail it ary forces
for that purpose.... - and for the mobilisation of the manhood of the nation
and its material resources in an emergency
"Under this provision the %r Department has prepared, plans and, with the
approval of the President, has designated September 12, 1924-, tne s.'.xbh anniversary
of the battle of St. Mihiel.. for the Defense Test,, on which day it is intended to
demonstrate and explain these nlans and to subject the underlying principles theree
to analysis and test.
MIn the World War, after enormous expenditures and serious loss of time,
masses of untrained individuals were concentrated in a few centers, distant from
home ties and associations, where their training was conducted under the greatest
difficulties* Profiting by these experiences the plan today contemplates skeleton
units, partially trained in advance, which can be concentrated locally when necessary
Units of the Regular Army and ^atidnal Guard, which coxistituts our first line of de
fense, must be ready to act vixLout delay, and their actual preparations should con
sist only of recruiting them to full strength and arming, equipping and completing
the training of the additional uersonnel needed forfchis purpose.
"Behind this first line we have the great) body of Reserves, which oust con
stitute the bulk of our defense force. Units of this force hns.9 been allocated to
sections of the country according to population, and tne "Defense Test" will be a
trial of their knowledge cf the duties which will automat.i.eally devolve upon them to
recruit, shelter, supply, equip, train and otherwise care for their respective organ
izations* ^t is hoped by the "Defense Test" to impress the individual officer and
saldier with his particular functions if a crisis comes* Local mobilization, a
special feature of the new mobilization plans, will be emphasized and tried out by
this test.
"The ’Defense Test1 should illustrate to citizens and communities the init
ial processes reouired for national defense. It is designed to make plain how the
government plans to utilize and combine community milts and energies so ssto obtain
the maximum orderly results in conformity with the c.bonoughj./ democratic character o:
our national defense policyl It is planned that the observance of the occasion sh*
be held in each city, town or other community in the United States. The event, in
addition to providiing instruction for the personnel in the mil it fry service, will
also be an opportunity for patriotic assemblages, parades of local units, Army, stab «
guards, constabulary, civic and war veteran societies, deserve Officers' Training
Corps, schools, etc., accordingly as may be developed in each locality. These dem
onstrations will be local in character and will not involve any expenditure of pub
lic funds. It is hoped that each citizen will learn his olace and responsibility i.
the defense of the country should our security be threatened^
"The general plan of the Defense Test in each state contemplates a State Mo
bilization Committee to be appointed by the governor and local mobilization commits?■'
to be appointed directly or through his state committee. I+ is intended that these
state and local agencies ~ shall represent the state and local
agencies which would be used in an emergency in the procurement of manpower* either
under a voluntary or selective service system and their functions in this respect
should be demonstrated in each community by filling the ranks of the organizations
stationed in their vicinity -—Regular Army, National Guard and Organized Reserves,
the personnel for which may be secured through invitations to civilians of military
age to serve FOR THAT DAY ONLY with specific units during their participation in
parades or other patriotic demonstrations„
"In order thatthe importance of the functions of the mobilization committee
may receive full recognition, it is very desirable that they be given charge of all
arrangements fofr assemblages and ceremonies incident to the occasion. They shoul
however, co-opearate fully with, and secure the assistance of, veteran, patriotic, v.