of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 591

Frankly, it will be a disheartening setback if General MacArthur and his
heroic defenders of the Island of Luzon, are forced to admit defeat. But if
the forces that might have relieved their difficulties can achieve even more
important results elsewhere, there will be a net gain and we will be that much
closer to victorious consummation of the world-wide struggle.

Again emphasizing the gigantic scope of operations necessary for the suc-
cessful conduct of war as initiated by the Axis militarists, we must keep in
mind that defense of our homeland and our people, of our vital industries, must
keep step with the offensive moves made in far-away lands. No matter how
effective a program may be developed to save Luzon Island, or the rich Dutch
East Indies or Singapore, if, in the meantime, we become so engrossed, in such
activities that we leave ourselves vulnerable to air or sea attacks here, from
the Atlantic the effect might be disastrous, indeed.

We must keep production moving at a constantly accelerated pace, we can
permit no serious interruptions to such production, and under no circumstances
can we afford to have our civilian population at home demoralized as a result
of being subjected, to hostile attacks.

That is why we have concentrated so much on Civilian Defense. This is
why the Air Raid Precaution Service, and all the other agencies of the Mary-
land Council of Defense and of the Army within our State, are functioning at
an ever-inrceasing gait. That is why our people are being urged to come for-
ward to the last person, if need be, to make sure that every necessary defense
agency can be manned fully, and that personnel can be trained in advance, so
that they can be counted upon to be ready to carry on their particular phase of
activity in the case of any serious emergency.

Yesterday we inaugurated the Plant Protection School, to which all the
important industries in our area will look for training of personnel whose busi-
ness it will be to be responsble for the protecton of those plants. Further,
all the emergency services, the Red Cross, the police and firemen and public
works, the first aid crews, all are being readied to the point where they can
instantly swing into service if the need arises.

To the people of the Eastern Shore, I say again that these are vitally
essential services. They deserve the attention and cooperation of every citizen.
If any of you, or any of the citizens of this area, failed to register for some
type of service, unless there is valid reason, beyond mere convenience, for you
failure, you should do so in order to fulfill your part by your Country in this
emergency.

In passing, it is worth noting that we have in the State of Maryland more
than 80, 000 foreign-born white citizens, of whom more than 14, 000 were born
in Germany and more than 10, 000 came from Italy. I cannot urge too strangly
the importance of a reasonable attitude to all these people, most of whom, I am
confident, are loyal in heart and would consciously do no disservice to this
Country. At the same time, knowing how the Axis nations have operated in
other countries, we would be foolish, indeed, not to anticipate that some among
these foreign-born residents of our State may be disloyal at heart and will
occasion trouble if the opportunity presents itself. I believe that we should be