of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 491

OAKLAND JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GARRETT COUNTY

September 22, 1941
Oakland

CONDITIONS confronting America are such that it is necessary for our
citizens to know the facts and to be prepared for any emergency. If ag-
gression should come to our shores, the civilian population will have a part to
play and I deem it appropriate that we discuss what preparations have been
made in this connection and what still remains to be done.

The bitter experience of England during the past months has demonstrated
clearly that any attack upon this Country must find every citizen. assigned to
his or her place; each one must have had thorough training to cope with the
particular situations to be faced; and one and all must be determined to per-
form these duties no matter what the danger or sacrifice that may be involved.

Briefly to mention the many definite services now being set up under the
head of Civilian Protection will give a comprehensive idea of the various types
of dangers that will threaten if, unfortunately, our State is subjected to a
hostile attack. There are Air Raid Wardens, Auxilary Police, Bomb Squads,
Auxiliary Firemen, Fire Watchers, Medical Corps, Rescue Squads, Nurses'
Aides Corps, Staff Corps, Messengers, Drivers Corps, Emergency Food and
Housing Corps, Demolition and Clearance Crews, and Road Repair. Crews.

Under the direction of the Maryland Council of Defense organization of
several of these services already has begun. Many of you would be surprised,
I am sure, if you could know the detailed planning that already has been com-
pleted, and the great mass of necessary information that has been collected
for use at the moment when, if such information is needed at all, there will be
no time for delay in assembling it.

When the State and District Defense Councils are ready to enlist and to
train volunteers for additional services, I am sure that any such calls will re-
ceive the complete cooperation and support of such organizations as yours, and
of the people of the rest of the State. The fact that must be borne in mind is
that, in matters of civilian defense, the twenty-eight year limit of the Selective
Training and Service Act does not apply. As we have seen from pictures and
accounts of civilian defense in Britain, many gray-haired men and women have
contributed as much as the youngest and most active of the civilian population.

The very fact that, here in America, separated by 3, 000 miles of turbulent
ocean from the bitter conflict now raging in Europe, we should have to organize
such defense planning is very definite evidence to all our people that the situa-
tions facing our Country is an alarming one. Only when all our people, in the
middle west, on our great plains, in the mountain sections as well as those
living close to the great oceans that touch us on either side, it is only when