of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 625

Here in Maryland it is the duty of all to make sure these foundations are solid,
that these coiled springs to drive the hammer-head are ready, and oiled and
primed.

So it is well to say to those who cry for action—be patient a little longer.
Be alert, keep busy—but have faith in your appointed leaders.

We read of 400-mile-per-hour and faster planes, and have come to accept
the fact that modern science has annihilated time and distance. To a certain
limited extent, that undoubtedly is true. When it comes, however, to the prob-
lem that now faces us, in the announced policy of carrying the war to our
enemies, we find that time and apace are important considerations, indeed.

"But our flying fortresses, " you say, "can reach the scene of battle in the
Far East in several days. Why should it take so long to get troops and supplies
there?" To establish the picture in our minds, let us remember that the battle-
front in our war with Japan is at least 6, 000 miles long. Its nearest point to
Continental United States is 3, 000 miles; its farthest point, 8, 000 miles. From
San Franciso to Hawaii, our first outpost in the Pacific, is nearly 3, 000 miles.
From there to the Philippines is another 5, 000 miles. And today, it must be
remembered, our Navy no longer has the advantage of bases at Wake Island
and Guam for fueling its ships, or on which to base air patrols to guard this
far-flung battleline.

When we talk of carrying the war to our enemy in the Far East, it isn't
merely a question of getting flying fortresses there. That is important, tre-
mendously so. But when we begin to think of transporting hundreds of thou-
sands of troops, thousands upon thousands of tanks and fighting planes, of guns
of every type, and the ammunition without limit for them; plus the thousands of
tons of food and routine equipment, it can easily be seen that the question of
first getting sufficient ships and, secondly, getting those ships through safely
over 5, 000 miles or more of hostile ocean, is a problem such as never before in
our history have we been called upon to tackle.

On the home front, in Civilian, Defense planning and thinking, there is one
fact that can never be repeated too often. It is simply this: That the adequate
defense of this great Washington metropolitan area, or of any other strategic
section of Maryland, requires that every able-bodied citizen must do his or her
part. Admittedly there are no heroics attached to many Civilian Defense ac-
tivities. Uniforms mean nothing when bombs start falling, and inured people
and helpless children begin crying for assistance.

In this Washington metropolitan area, which is one of the several strategic
areas of the State, a most intensive, all-out collaboration by all our residents
must be expected and demanded. No matter what one's capabilities and train-
ing may be, there is a place in one or another of the defense activities for help
of every type. I sincerely hope that those who have not, up to this time, en-
rolled, will make known their willingness immediately to the proper authorities.
In all fairness, if we are to look to the Army and other protective forces to
take care of us in an emergency, we must do our part to take care of everyone
of our neighbors under any and all circumstances.