OCR Text |
Show Iras loi io STARS 10 STRIPES Ten Million Ready to Support Sup-port United States in Event of War. PEOPLE ARE UNITED Editorials Reflect Popular Sentiment in Resisting Teuton Demands. MANILA, P. I., March 31. In the event of war with Germany the United. States can count on ten million loyal backers in the Philippine Islands. The way the neves of the break in diplomatic diplo-matic relations was received by all parties here leaves nothing to be desired. de-sired. Universal training and service measures mea-sures have been introduced in the legislature, legis-lature, and a bill to punish espionage is expected to be enacted. Americans had nothing to do with promoting these bills, except that the governor general may sign or veto them when passed. La Ivacion, the organ of the opposition opposi-tion party, says: "If war comes the United States will not fight for Russian occupancy of Constantinople, nor for French recon-quest recon-quest of Alsace-Lorraine, nor Italian possession of the Trontino, but for the defense of tho principles which the United States has always maintained, nor will the war be continued when these have been vindicated. The Filipino Fili-pino attitude should be one of serenity and absolute loyalty to the flag under j which they live. ' ' i EI Ideal's Editorial. El Ideal, the mouthpiece of the Ka-cionaliste Ka-cionaliste party and of Speaker Os-meua, Os-meua, says: The nation, to a man, strongly backa up its first magistrate and representative, and, as in previous crises, American patriotism will surely do wonders in fearlessness ana aonegauon. The United States is anxiously desirous of preserving peace. But fate has dragged her to war, and history has yet to see one single instance in which the American nation na-tion hesitated in the face of a threat, in tho face of an outrage of her rights and a trampling over of her fundamental interests. La Vanguardia, the foremost Filipino newspaper, independent in politics, says: The rnpture of relations between Germany and the United States ha shown the complete loyalty of the islands to the home country in case of a conflict, and the unity of sentiment sen-timent of the Filipinos. Legislature Is Active. Early in the first session of the Philippine Phil-ippine legislature now drawing to a close, the purpose of that body to enact some measure for what might be called " natioual defense'' became apparent. Tho breaking off of diplomatic relations rela-tions between tho United States and Germany precipitated two different bills which have been introduced in tho legislature to provide for military training train-ing of the Filipinos. The measure which eoems to meet with tho approval of moat of tho legislators legis-lators provides a special committee of "national defenso' to formulate a bvs-tem bvs-tem of military training that shall be "gratuitous, universal and obligatory." i This committee is to consist of five Filipinos and two Ampricans, to be appointed ap-pointed by the governor general. The system which the bill outline contemplates that primary instruction in military training shall be given in the public schools for boys between the ages of 0 aud .18 and a practical training train-ing for those more than 18 years of apje. This primary or elementary training wiJl be a uart of the curriculum of the public pub-lic schools. Provides for Training. The bill also provides that women shall be trained as an auxiliary to tho men trained to bear arms. Provision is also mad for raising a fund for the building of defense equipment, equip-ment, such as submarines and aero-planeci. aero-planeci. A hill punishing espionage haa beon introduced and already passed by tho senate. The measure defines this an "directly or indirectly, in time of peace or in time of war, or when the United States of America Jh in a stnte of war with a foreign nation or nations, to obtain or attempt to obtain, without being duly authorised, information, plans, photographs or any data of a yorTPt rhnrartr pertaining to tho defense de-fense of the Philippine territory, either on land or sea. ' ' |