790 State Papers and Addresses.

is to thwart air attack. Through constant training and drilling we are welding
a force in each community in our State so effective that our enemy will find it
not worthwhile to try to disrupt our lives or our war production through aerial
bombing. And if he tried, that force will be so well prepared for action that
he will suffer the equivalent of a military defeat. He will fail to reach his
objective—death, destruction and demoralization.

In the emphasis on the Protective Services of Civilian Defense, let it be
said that the correlated Community War Services have not been neglected.
Now an active program is under way to set up the machinery for such Civilian
War Service as Nutrition, Salvage, Day Care for Children, and other equally
important community responsibilities. They are a part of our warfare at home.

It might be interesting to point out at this time that an Evacuation Pro-
gram is being developed under the able guidance of Dr. Thomas A. Pullen. So
that when I say we are ready, that term is all inclusive.

Apart from its military significance and the vital role it will play in case
of an airborne invasion, Civilian Defense is, and will be, a powerful force in
peace time community life. This was fully manifested in the two recent dis-
asters that occurred in Maryland.

Maryland suffered a costly and horrible disaster recently in which Civilian
Defense gave its prompt and efficient aid. As you know only too well, -the rain
swollen rivers of Maryland inundated many populated areas and threatened
widespread loss of life and property. The Civilian Defense organizations in
Western Maryland responded to the call nobly, and through their untiring ef-
forts with the State Guard and the Red Cross and other agencies of mercy,
saved many lives and assisted in the evacuation of home and provided temporary
shelter and food for those rendered homeless.

Thus, a growing consciousness of what war means pervades in Maryland,
but since the demands of war never stay still, the program of action of the
Civilian Defense front must be dynamic in character, moving forward to meet
the new things and to anticipate the needs of tomorrow.

With this fully in mind, I called into special session the entire membership
of the Maryland Council of Defense on Thursday, October 15th. This meeting
was called to consider War Emergency legislation to be presented to the State
Legislature when it convenes, in January.

In my estimation the time has come to place the Council on a war basis.
It has done an outstanding and commendable job in preparing us for war and
perfecting our home defense machinery.

I say again, we are ready. Don't let anyone try to convince you that our
people are complacent and apathetic. The silent, grim and determined attitude
of our people is a splendid omen. The absence of fanfare and flourishes is a
true indication of their quiet acceptance of a great task.

Yes, this is a people's war. We are all in it. We are all in it with both
hands and feet. We are too busy for hymns of hate. Our song will be with-
held until we have earned the right to lift our voices in a jubilant hymn of Vic-
tory.