Smyrna times., 1956-02-09
NEW AGE AND
CIVIL DEFENSE
Bustling Age With Soaring
Population and Vastly Ex-
panded Economy
MORE PEOPLES HOMES

ed these days that we are "enter-
ing 9 new age" Already this has
become a stock remark which all
of us believe and repeat. We tend
to think of this new age enthusi-
astically in terms of the benefits
we expect to derive from it, but
how many of us stop to consider
the new responsibilities it will
thrust upon us?
The economists say it will be a
bustling age with a soaring pop
ulation and a vastly expanded
economy. The scientists promise
us an era of new chronological
marvels which will change our
basic living habits. The statistic
ians say it will be an age of big
ger and better statistics-more
people, homes, industries, schools
and highways.
For the most part it is a bright
picture, but it has its somber side.
Over all the future, as far as we
can see ahead, hangs the threat
of another war, a nuclear war.
Already, this continuing threat
is a fixture in our lives, a new
dimension of our times, affecting
all our thinking and planning. For
example, as industry expands it
also is being urged to disperse in
the interests of national defense.
Government, too, in its planning
for the new age is expanding its
defense thinking beyond the pure
ly military area.
Why defense? Because if this
country is attacked, an estimated
20 million people will have to be
evacuated from target areas. 1t
/, would be the biggest transporta-
I ton problem ever faced by any
nation, and our existing highways
would not be equal to the task.
In similar ways, defense think
ing and planning-the new dimen-
sion of modern life-has perme-
ated all the activities of govern
ment at the national, state and
local levels.
Just recently, President Eisen-
hover established Civil Defense
coordinating board for the sole
purpose of tying together defense
activities in all federal agencies.
Top ranking officials from every
department of government -edu-
cation, health, welfare, agricul-
ture, etc.-will serve under Val
Peterson, federal Civil Defense adj
ministrator, in working out the
boards policies.
In Delaware, every agency of
the state government-police, well
fare, health, education and the
rest-long has been responsible
for emergency planning in its
special field.
Local governments, too, are
gradually assuming the new re-
sponsibilities for community de-
fense. Even neighborhoods are
beginning to be affected, though
only slightly as yet.
Eventually, defense thinking and
behavior will be as much a part
of our daily lives as any other
responsibility of citizenship. This
responsibility will begin in the
home. Every family head will, as
a matter of course, see to it that
he has his shelter area prepared,
his stock of emergency supplies
on hand, just as now he puts
locks on his doors, installs storm
windows, takes out fire and theft
insurance, and keeps the police
and fire calls close at hand. And
just as certainly every citizen will,
as matter of course, play some
part in his community defense or
ganization.
But as yet home defense is a
new responsibility. Few of us take
| to it kindly. We don't want more
responsibility. We don't want to
believe the world has changed,
that the next war threatens our
town, that even our homes are no
longer safe. For these reasons,
we drag our feet when it comes
to Civil Defense.
With the next generation (iT
by then it isn't too late) defense
will be ingrained. Already, defense
themes are being stressed in our
schools. Economics, science, geo.
graphy, social studies are being
placed in new perspective-that
of a nation in peril.
The youngsters are growing ur
to accept the new age on its owr
terms, both good and bad. Iron.
ically, it is we grown-ups who