712 State Papers and Addresses

Radio Station WFBR October 14, 1942

VICTORY RALLY-SHIPBUILDING WORKERS

Fifth Regiment Armory
Baltimore, August 30, 1942

The patriotic action of the four Locals of shipyard workers sponsoring
tonight's meeting, is an example that every true American can well note and
imitate. It is truly another instance of that splendid spirit of cooperation
that from the outset of the war has inspired the workers in Maryland's great
shipyards to accompolish almost unbelieveable feats of production.

The triple purpose of this gathering, first, to focus attention upon the
necessity for increased shipyard production efficiency; second, to boost war
bond sales and third, to enlist many thousand additional blood donors,
cannot fail to be of immediate interest to everyone. Everyone here, and
throughout our State, will join with me in congratulating the Unions for
their work in connection with this event, and in wishing them the most
complete success along all three lines of endeavor to which the meeting is
addressed.

Naturally, the most spectacular elements in this world-wide war for
Democracy are the ones that attract most public notice, and hence register
strongest upon the public mind. However, though the men in the shipyards
have not the opportunity for accompolishments of daring and individual
bravery that make the front pages of the papers', none the less the work they
are doing, *day in and day out, under all conditions of weather, ranks equal in
importance with the daring exploits of our fighting men on all fronts.

Let me give an example: The whole world has been thrilled by the heroic
action of the great poeple of Russia. And no one will deny that the superb
defense offered by the Russian armies, a defense that really can be said to
have saved the United Nations by giving them time to build up their war
machines, was helped by the achievements of the men who built the ships to
carry the needed war supplies to the Soviet Union.

Likewise, only ships, and plenty of them, could have paved the way for
America's successful participation in the defense of Australia and the most
recent Victory over the Japanese in the Solomons Islands.

Despite the tragic number of sinkings in the North Atlantic, it was the
work of the men in Maryland and other shipyards that maintained the vital
lifeline for supplies! and reinforcements to England, to Hawaii and Midway,
and to the many other scattered outposts where American and United Nations
Forces have entrenched themselves at strategic points.

Many of these battle stations that have been taken over are comparatively
unknown to the general run of American people. But, like the successful
attack on the Solomons! Island, they were fortified because many such