Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-10-21

F., continued IN Maryland for the
duration, Civilian Defense off
Gals of the Atlantic Seaboarc
States expressed emphatic ap.
prevail of Governor O'Conor's de.
cision.
Leonard Dreyfuss, State Direc.
tor of New Jersey, and Chairman
of the Conference, telegraphed his
groups qualification over the
Maryland policy, which will be
brought officially before a meet
ing of officials from all the East
Coast States on Thursday.
Maryland is the first State in
the Country to announce that the
Civilian Protective Services, in
Guiding Air Raid Warden groups,
Auxiliary Police and Firemen,
and medical Emergency Services,
will go on, despite the Federal
action in tapering off such activi-
ties.
Addressing a Statewide meet
ing of local defense officials from
all % Counties and Baltimore
City, Governor O'Conor made the
States position entirely clear.
Maryland is still as important
strategically to the war effort,
it's coastline as inviting to enemy
attack, as it was when the Civil
ian Defense Protective Organiza-
tons were first enrolled" he de-
clared. "There is still the posi-
bility of disaster to our industry
and our public services, even
though no outside enemy may
ever try to reach our State.
"While the Nations overall
military status might not be seri-
ously affected by one or a few air
raids or acts of sabotage confined
to limited area, nevertheless, that
area with it's citizens and it's in
dustries would be in dire need of
protective forces. To allow these
units to disband under these cir
cumstances is not only unfair to
the citizens of our State but
would be a lack of prudence and
wisdom as we continue our efforts
against our enemies.
Considered from another stand
point, the fact that the Federal
Government. finds it strategic to
curtail its civilian defense pro-
gram while expanding it's military
and production programs, places
an added responsibility upon the
States to meet this requirement.
In other words, while our mill
tary leaders are concentrating,
through offensive action, on car
rying the war to the enemies,
the civilian effort, through the
States, must not be allowed to
disintegrate.
"To the members of the Air
Craft Spotter System who have
been placed upon the reserve,
extend thanks both personally
and on behalf of all the people of
our State. We appreciate more
than we can say the many hours
of services rendered. We know
the inconvenience, the annoyances
of cold and heat and loss of
sleep, that were endured cheer
fully and periodically that the
rest of the population of our
State might go their way, and
sleep their sleep, with more Sc
cure minds.
ITO the Air Raid Wardens, the
Auxiliary Firemen and Police
men, the members of the Emer-
gency Medical Services, l say
Thank you from the bottom of
all our hearts, You've done a
perfectly fine job. You have I'M
selfishly given many hours to
training, and you now stand as
component organizations that are
prepared to contribute immensely
to the good of all our people if
and when the occasion should ever
arise.
"No sensible person can ques-
ton, l know, the benefit to our
State from the training that has
been given our Auxiliary Fire
men and Policemen, and through
the Medical Emergency Services
Likewise, the excellent protective
systems of our great war indus.
try plants are to an extent the
result of the Plant Protection
School conducted by the Maryland
Council of Defense months ago
All in all, the $4,000 volunteers
of the various protective services
of our State are an asset that
we would be foolish indeed to dis.
pose of. And we definitely arc
NOT n.oinnr 70 do L.