614 State Papers and Addresses

The President is asking for a new plane every four minutes, a new tank
every seven minutes, two ships a day, and submarines, guns, torpedoes, am-
munition and other war equipment in proportion. Production rates are to be
doubled and tripled and quadrupled. All this, not in years to come but in
months, for speed is of the essence. Our Axis enemies tried to catch us flat-
footed, and they hope to entrench themselves firmly in the vital areas before we
can adjust ourselves to the production necessary to defeat them.

They haven't figured, though, on the American temperament, on American
determination. No other nation in the world could adjust itself in the time
that may be allotted. We can, however, and we will. Before many months
have passed, the Germans and Japanese, and Italians will think the whole world
has turned to arms against them. They will see more planes and tanks and
guns than anyone thought this world could produce.

Maybe Mr, Hitler has a premonition of that right now. Up to this time,
in his annual harangue to the German people, he has boastfully promised them
victories surpassing the imagination, but for 1942. he makes no predictions at
all of ultimate victory. It is the first time he has failed to do so. He must-
see the handwriting on the wall.

In such an all-out production program, however, every citizen of our land
must cooperate to the fullest. Just because you may be called upon to run
a machine in a war plant, doesn't mean that you can hold yourself aloof. What-
ever your capacity, there will be need for your services, if only to replace
persons who have been drafted into productive work. Particularly, everyone
with specialized skill or knowledge of any kind had a distinct obligation now to
place such skill or knowledge at the Nation's service.

In order to have the benefit of the experience of our ex-Service men; The
American Legion with its large membership is asked to take active part in
organizing schools for the training of civilians who are to be enrolled in the
Citizens Defense Corps. Under this plan, selected members of the Legion of
every Post in the State will assist in the formation of these training courses.
The State, through our Defense Councils, will make available the services of
technical experts and instructors.

We have in Maryland the outstanding training school at Edgewood Arsenal,
considered the best in the Country, and in the quota of persons to be enrolled
for future courses will be a goodly portion of Legionnaires. After the com-
pletion of the course at Edgewood Arsenal, State-wide schools will be conducted
for a greater number at Legionnaires, and other civilians to provide a ten-day
training course. Following these courses, the Legionnaires, returning to their
own localities, will be asked to conduct similar schools under the jurisdiction
of their local posts. Under this plan, it is expected that the greatest number
of civilians can be trained and, fortunately, we will have the benefit of the
services of veterans who have been through World War No. I.

Just as workers in the heavy industries must produce without limit, so, on
our farms and in all phrases of agriculture and its related fields, the true Amer-