Evening star., 1942-07-12
The Eastern Shore Is on the Alert

Military and civilian life are con-
spicuously intermingled these days on
the Eastern Shore peninsula, hithe o
known to Washingtonians chiefly as a
summer vacation spot. The Sho' has
always been q picturesque country. It's
Towering farms, interspersed with wood
lands and dotted with lakes, have a far
away from the modern world look about
them and Its people, who are Of Colonial
American stock, have preserved un-
changed many old customs which else
where have been laid aside. Oxen for
example are frequently seen drawing
ploughs in fields, and recently woman
from the village of Midway, Del, gave an
exhibition of her skill in spinning, using
q wheel which had been in her family
for many generations. Capital visitors
for years now have found this quaint
and peaceful country ideal for relaxation.
But today its peace stands side by side
with many manifestations of the current
war
For the idyllic- looking peninsula is
an important military area and Uncle
Sam, piling up his defenses, has not
overlooked that fact. Even before the
United States was attacked, he had be-
hi orfc oln
the critical stretck of coast and today
the work goes on at an accelerated pace.
A huge new coast artillery fort, har-
bor-entrance control post operated joint
ly by the Army and Navy, substan-
tial body Of mobile troops and aug
mented Coast Guard personnel are some
evidences OF his activity which civilian
ewes can witness for themselves. Mil
itary secrecy, however. wells the great
part of the new defense system from
casual view. But even without going be-
yond the bounds of ordinary vacation
ing, q visitor will be vividly aware that
the once sleepy peninsula is fully
wakened to the war.
Men in Uniform Throng Towns.
Sturdy, sun-browned young men in
uniform-Army, Navy. Coast Guard and
Civilian Air Patrol-throng the streets
Of the resort towns. Military vehicles
jeeps, motorcycles, insigne bearing sta
ton wagons and armored trucks trun-
ding anti-tank guns-hurry along the
roads. Army, Navy and c. A. P. planes
%b> slit o1
blimp will strut by overhead, making
majestic uproar. Ffre-control towers,
oddly medieval-looking in contrast to
their modern purpose, have risen at
various points along the highway and
fox holes and corduroy roads have mys-
teriously appeared in once desolate
stretches of dune. Almost daily the
sound of practice firing booms along the
shore and local residents vie with one
another now in identifying the type Of
gun being used. Dimout areas have
been laid down around every coastal
town and signs warn the approaching
motorists Of the line where he must cut
down his lights and reduce his speed
There is hardly an aspect of life, indeed,
which has not been affected by this
superinposition Of military forces on a
civilian community.
But, the unfamiliarity nothwithstand-
ing, there has been no disharmony. The
Sho' true to its long tradition Of Ameri-
canism. has taken its defenders en-
Enthusiastically to its heart and the de-
tenders, by their excellent conduct and
friendly cooperation, have established
standard which cannot but make Ameri-
cans proud of their men-at-arms.
The towns most aware of this are
Lewes and Rehoboth Beach-the former
because it impinges on the reservation
of Fort Miles, the great new coast artil-
lery post erected during the past year
on Cape Henlopen, and the latter be-
cause Its resort facilities attract many
soldiers and sailors in their hours off
duty. Both villages have found the
military visitors q welcome addition.
Fortress in the Dunes.
1ewes, indeed, regards the fort with
something like proprietary pride. For
one thing, the 1,010 acres Of the reser-
VaClOn were InOStly CdkcH lTOHl CIlc
village common lands" originally laid
out in grants to William Penn and held
In trust for the benefit of the town and
county ever since. These lands were
never used; actually, they were not con-
sidered usable They were lonely dunes,
beautiful to the eye but untraversed by
any road fit for motor trafic and
dangerous to foot travellers on account
Of uncharted quicksands. Lewestowners
nonetheless, have always regarded "the
Cape" as their particular property. And
now that the Federal Government has
made 1t the site of great fortress they
have assumed all responsibility for that
fortress, not as a mere duty but as ar
unQuestionable right.
One hears them in the town speaking
of our fort" and "our boys" with 8
decided air of superior satisfaction
Recently when the guns at Fort Sauls'
bury, farther up the shore, were boomini
in target practice, a Lewes woman
remarked critically that she did no
think the Salisbury artillery sounded
as we'll as that at Miles Our boys ART
smarter" she said positively. You cal
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