ARMY & NAVY: For Defense

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Hale: "I, too, will soon follow in your footsteps. . . . Success and happiness. Goodnight, General."

Omaha answered the next switch of signals: "This is Duncan talking."

Pershing: "Is that you, George? Did you hear what Hale and Bullard just said ?"

Duncan: "Yes, I listened. . . . They only echoed what happened in this corps area. . . . We regret to hear you say goodbye to the Army."

Pershing thanked him, reminisced briefly, hung up.

Coincident with the military tests, which brought National Guardsmen and reservists to the colors, which provided for the temporary enrollment of Red Cross nurses and civilians everywhere (even in Paris 250 men registered for service), the captains of industry rallied around their desks for the national defense. It was a great game. In the Engineering Societies Building in Manhattan, Judge Elbert H. Gary, Chairman of the U. S. Steel Corporation, received a hypothetically frantic order for railway equipment.

"Crowley," he cried, "See to that!"

"At once," exclaimed the President of the New York Central, and began to execute orders right and left, which went humming out in code over imaginary telegraph lines.

Came an order for untold wealth.

McRoberts," shouted Judge Gary, "Attend to this!"

"Aye, aye, sir," called the Head of the Metropolitan Trust Company, jumping forward.

As the myriad demands were made, so they were met by a ten-myriad of orders. It was a great game whether or not it all happened as reported. In the end, the captains of industry were rewarded for their labors. A telegram arrived:

"JUDGE ELBERT H. GARY:

"Please be good enough to communicate my good wishes and the assurance of my deep interest in the purposes of the gathering which is being held today by the leaders of the industrial and engineering activities of the country. The national power in these departments is one of our firmest reliances for prosperity and security.

(Signed) "CALVIN COOLIDGE."

*General Bullard was Pershing's classmate at West Point (1885). General Duncan was a plebe when Pershing and Bullard were yearlings. Generals Morton and Hale were in the Class of 1883.

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