of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 587

In the event that the Axis powers feel that they can attempt a "token" bomb-
ing of America to demoralize our people, it is felt quite generally that the
place they would decide upon would be Washington, the Capital of the Country.
Knowing full well the steps that have been taken to insure protection of
the Nation's Capital against any such raids, it seems entirely possible that any
hostile bombers would be intercepted and turned back before they could drop
their load of havoc and devastation. In that event, the enemy pilots will
certainly attempt to get away with all possible speed, and to do this it will be
necessary for them to "dump" their load of bombs.

As such an attack could come only from the East, the Axis planes would
have to retreat to the East, across Maryland. Naturally, therefore, any bombs
that they would "dump" to lighten their load, would be dumped upon Maryland
and, most likely, upon the farming areas, because there are no particularly
well populated areas in the course of such a possible retreat.

You have all read many times, I am sure, accounts of misfortunes suffered
by "innocent bystanders. " Without meaning to indicate in any way that the
farm people of Maryland are merely bystanders in the all-out effort we are
making for defense—for I know that they are contributing just as completely
as any group could—nevertheless, as you can see from the foregoing, the
"innocent bystanders" reference does have some application as far as you are
concerned. I sincerely hope, however, you never will be called upon to face a
bombing, whether intended for you or primarily intended for some vital govern-
mental or defense objectives.

One of our great responsibilities is readying our State for any eventuality,
is the question of informing all our people not only as to what is being done for
their protection, but also as to their individual responsibilities in connection
with defense.

In the matter of blackouts, for instance, it is entirely possible that lack
of observance of the regulations on the part of one, or just a few, persons
might well result in disaster to an entire neighborhood, because a few scattered
lights glowing in the darkness might well attract enemy atention and bombs.

Of even more importance, is the possibility that such failure to comply
with regulations might be the means of leading the bombing Blames to highly
important defense objectives, where millions of dollars worth of damage might
be wrought, and where millions of sorely-needed man-hours might be wasted
because _of destruction to essential machinery.

The fact that such failure to comply with regulations might be due to in-
advertence, and to lack of precise knowledge on the part of our people as to
what was expected "of them, would be poor consolation, indeed. In some ways
it would be even more reprehensible than if the lack of compliance was due to
a desire to assist the enemy, for it would be due entirely to our own lack of
diligence in1 getting across to our people the information that must be conveyed
to them.

In the century and a half through which, our Nation has passed, in what-
ever emergency that faced our people, there has never been a vestige of doubt
in the minds of any of» our leaders as to where the farm population of our1