564 State Papers and Addresses

Fortunately, much has been accomplished already in the all-important
work of preparing for the defense and protection of our civilian population in
case of attack. Since the Maryland Council of Defense was appointed by me
in August of 1940, following conferences with Federal officials in Washington,
the vastly complicated scheme of protective measures has been developing con-
tinuously and increasingly under the direction and supervision of the State
Defense Council, and of the District Defense Councils that later supplemented
the original body.

The progress made in intiating and developing the various phases of de-
fense preparations throughout the State has been, particularly gratifying be-
cause it was accomplished despite a lack of any general appreciation by the
people of the State of what we were attempting, and without any widespread
acceptance of the neccessity for intensive defense planning such as the Council
of Defense had undertaken.

Up till last Sunday, America was living in what may properly be called a
state of "IF. " We said to each other that if war comes—if this crisis material-
izes—if this or that should happen, why then, of course, we all would be willing
and able to do this and so.

Well, today that state of "IF" is over. We have suddenly and violently
been hurled into the black chaos of reality. It is no nightmare. It is a night
where the enemy skulks and out of which we shall have to fight our own way
with all the cunning and courage at our disposal. The time has come, —and
now is—when all the "IF's" have come home to roost; when all the things we
were going to do have got to be done—now and with all our might.

We are, therefore, gathered here for what is in every literal sense a Council
of War. Because, as each of us knows quite well, wars are no longer fought
exclusively between and by the armed forces of conflicting nations. Danger
is no longer confined to the front line of fighting. The growth of airpower has
overleaped any form of barrier. Distances from the enemy's headquarters is
no guarantee at all of physical safety. A man, a woman, a child killed by an
Axis bomb in Baltimore is just as great a loss as the soldier struck down in
Asia or on an island of the Pacific. Yes—and the chances of death by Axis
weapons are almost as strong in one place as in another.

We have raised our flag against international gangsterism. Wherever that
flag flies is a target at which the enemy shoots—and shoots to kill.

So be it! A nation like a man, deserves credit for the enemies it makes.
As Americans we can be proud to have cultivated the hatred of murderers and
(marauders. Neither as a Government nor as individuals has this Country made
any bones about our feelings towards these barbarians. And they have fully
justified the low opinion in which we held them.

They have struck, as a desperado will strike—without warning and with the
fury of guilt and hatred and desperation. Had we been afraid we should never
have invited the Axis wrath by voicing disapproval of Axis methods. Not
being afraid we have spoken our minds and we are prepared to take the con-
sequences, always in the full knowledge that the final settlement, when it comes,