Evening star., 1942-03-12
Minute Men
Organizing in
NearbyCounties
Judge Prescott,
Maj. AieIIo Head
Units in Maryland

Organization of Maryland Min
utemen" in Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties was going for
ward today in response to appeals
by Gov. O'Conor and Mai. Gen.
Milton A. Rockford, commander Of
the third corps area.
Circuit Court Judge Stedman
Prescott of Rockville announced
that he is proceeding to form i'm
mediately one or more companies
of reserve militia. In Prince
Georges County units of minute
men" are being organized under
the direction of Maj. C. L. Aiello,
commanding officer of the 9th
Battalion of the Maryland State
Guard.
Meanwhile, throughout the State,
men crowded State armories to offer
their services.
Forming as Reserve Guard.
The minute men" to be organ
lied as a reserve guard, would be
charged with repelling possible in
vasion, parachute raids and pre-
venting sabotage.
Maj. Aiello said application blanks
for those wishing to enroll will be
available tonight at the Hyattsville
Armory.
Units are being formed in Hyatts-
vile, with Sam Harvey. as acting
commander, Seat Pleasant and
Mount Rainier, he said.
A veteran of the World War. Mai.
Aiello. a lawyer, served two years in
the Marine Corps. He is past COM
mander of the State American
| Legion.
He pointed out that under the
Maryland Constitution, all men be-
tween the ages of 81 to so are mem
bers Of what is known as the un-
organized State militia Of Mary
land.
In the World War Judge Pres
colt was lieutenant Of artillery.
Points to Paratroop Danger.
Prior to his election to the Cir
cult Court in 1888, Judge Prescott
served as States attorney and State
Senator for Montgomery County.
In accepting the post Of COM
mander of the county militia, he
| said:
Situated as we are next door to
the Nations Capital and within a
few miles of the Atlantic Coast.
it is not at all too fanciful to Wis
ualize the possibility Of any COM
munity sooner or later being con-
fronted by from 20 to 500 of the
most fanatical. determined and ath-
letic paratroops Of the enemy's
army adequately equipped and as
sisted by any available fifth COL
umn Should this happen. the at
tempted atrocities will be serious,
horrible and despicable.
With the prime of our youth at
| the front. and the State Guard as
signed definite duties. it is COM
| pletely wise and sensible to have
/ the older men, especially those ia
miliar with the use Of firearms and
/ who must stay at home, formed
into units to protect their families
. anu lLlcIl llOIIleS. L SIIlCcIeIy COlIl-
mend the Governor for his FORE
sight in taking the lead in this
necessary field"
/ First Contingent Forms
Twenty-Five members of the Al
legany County Game Wardens As
sociation became Marylands first
/ 1912 minute men," the Associated
Press reported.
! Adjt. Gen. Francis Petrott and
Gov. OiConor both we're pleased
with the first days results.
The rush was so great this morn
ing I called Gov. O'Conor for ad-
ditional clerical help" the adjutant
| general asserted. Throughout the
day the 5th Regiment Armory was
busy enrolling men. while our tele-
! phones tangled constantly"
Gen. Petrott predicted heaviest
enliStments will occur on week ends
when many men will be free to
join up"
Gov. O'Conor appealed for volun-
teers during Statewide radio
broadcast in which he emphasized
Maryland. by its location. might
be the victim of a token air raid.
bringing with it parachutists and
| saboteurs."