652 State Papers and Addresses

model for other States to follow. From figures as of last Saturday, I am happy
to say that the Shore companies are well abreast of the rest of the State.

To date, 1, 800 volunteer auxiliary firemen have been enlisted in the 23
counties. Of these, 601 have been signed by 17 companies on the Eastern
Shore. Training of auxiliary fire volunteers has been started by 18 companies
throughout the State, with a total enlistment of 663 men. More than a third
of these, or 275 trainees, have been secured by 7 Eastern Shore companies.
Defense classes for instructions in war gases are now being held on the Eastern
Shore. Four classes are attended by 90 men of the regular volunteer force,
while 12 classes for volunteer firemen have am enrollment of 243 men. Six
members of the State force have completed a school at Edgewood Arsenal in
incendiary bomb and war gas defense.

Reports from the Women's Division of the Maryland Council of Defense
indicate that over the entire Eastern Shore activities have been most effective.
The sale of United States Defense Bonds has engaged the attention of some
counties with very splendid results, others have done notable work in sewing
and knitting, while nutrition activities and general attention to the needs of
the men in the service have been given attention in practically all of the
counties.

During the Air Raid exercises in this area in October, the warning
centers in Salisbury, Easton and Elkton simulated actual war conditions by
having the populations take an active part. In these exercises every Civilian
Defense service participated, including fire departments, police departments,
State police, medical services, hospitals, radio stations, Red Cross, utilities and
others. In connection with operation of the observation posts during these"
exercises, the work of the whole Shore was excellent, and uniformly the men
and women who operated the posts were given highest commendation.

In this connection it might be noted with some degree of pride that in the
very urgent mater of medical care, figures just released by the Census Bureau
of the Department of Commerce show Maryland in fourth place, well ahead
of 44 other States of the Nation. In the matter of general medical care, Mary-
land was approximately at the point set as ideal by the Department; it was
far ahead of the ideal needs in mental disease treatment, and approximately
twice as well prepared as the rest of the Country in care for tuberculosis
patients. Despite this excellent record, we are expanding our State facilities
even further and on or about January 1st, will open a new 50 bed addition at
Henryton for the care of colored tuberculosis patients.

Faced as we are with stirring decisions, and with the necessity of pre-
paring ourselves adequately to defend our land and our free institutions against
any threats, it is absolutely essential that we have National Unity, unity of
mind and heart and purpose among all our citizens.

We must have such unity that, for instance, the sailors who man the de-
stroyers and the battle cruisers in the chilly waters of the North Atlantic,
may be assured that, back at home, their fellow-Americans in industry, on the
farm, in the mines, are fulfilling, their patriotic obligations just as definitely
as are the sailors on patrol duty.