of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 537

Further calls, however, of much more varied nature are sure to come, and
in this connection I might say that much light on women's place in defense will
be presented forcibly to the State and the Nation during Civilian Defense Week,
which will begin tomorrow.

Undoubtedly you are all familiar with the Civilian Defense Week plan. Its
purpose is to impress deeply and forcibly upon the people of our State and of
the Country a full appreciation of the dangers that threaten, and of the steps
that must be taken to avert them. It is a story with which every women here
must be thoroughly familiar, for unless we can go out to tell to the rest of the
people of the county and the State what is needed, and what will be expected of
each one of them, complete civilian defense planning will not be possible.

Throughout the State the ground work has been laid for the various
phases of necessary civilian defense in time of an emergency, ever since the
creation by me of the Maryland Council of Defense back in August of last year.
At that time, with the inspiring experience of the English people in the defense
of their homeland to guide us, and with full cognizance of the vital part played
in every field of home defense by the women, young and old, of Great Britain,
I appointed Mrs. John L. Whitehurst to accept membership on the Maryland
Council of Defense and to begin organization of the women of our State for
defense purposes.

While much was expected of this women's organization, it must be admitted
freely that its accomplishments have far exceeded any possible anticipation.
Thanks to the cooperation of the women, the entire State has been set up in a
close-knit organization, headed by fifteen Administrative Chairmen, and with
the Presidents of leading State organizations serving on the Advisory Com-
mittee. Backing up the State Chairmen and the Advisory Committee, as the
direct contact points with the many thousands of women of our State, are the
county Chairmen and the Chairman for Baltimore City, all working as a unit
under the supervision of the State Division. Four hundred or more committees
are functioning in various fields of endeavor in the various parts of the State.

All of us remember, in the war that engulfed the world more than a score
of years ago, how many women there were who felt that they should be doing
something of real value for their Country beyond the knitting of socks and
sweaters. A few others, of course, did service as ambulance drivers and nurses,
some additional few had their services utilized in specialized fields of defense-
industry. That was another day, however, and another type of war, and all
the rules under which it was fought have been superseded by new methods
that render women of the utmost importance, particularly in the field where
America may one day need to put forth its mightiest efforts—that is, in the
field of Home Defense.

Every one here hopes and prays, I know, that the day will never come when
the women of America, or the military forces of our Country, will be called
upon to repel an invader. But even while we hope and pray, it is but common
sense to realize that, in the final analysis, the decision as to whether America
is to be attacked will rest upon forces beyond our control. At the moment it
seems a little far-fetched that America could ever be attacked, either by land