The Delmarva leader and the Seaford news., 1958-04-11

and SO that you may more easily
see their extent, | am enclosing as
Attachment ''B" a compilation OF
these benefits and accomplish
ments.
In these times of satellites and
missiles, and bombs of ever larger
j powers of destruction, the position
of civil defense becomes increas.
ingly more important to our coun-
try and our people. Of two coun-
tries, with equal capabilities for
engaging in nuclear warfare, the
nation which has the ability to first
recover from nuclear attack and
restore its economy, will be the
nation which will be able to pur
sue the war and win the final vic
tory. This is the function of Civil
Defense: to provide those capabi--
lities, organizations, and facilities,
which will enable our people to re-
cover from an attack in the short
est possible time There is every
reason to believe that if our coun-l
try is known to have strong civil
defense which will enable it to re-
cover from q nuclear attack in less
time that that Of a prospective
enemy, this will act as deterrent
and will prevent an attack.
Il
al security features of civil de-
fense. there is also the immediate
| local aspects In case of an attack,
State and local civil defense agen-
cies will be expected to handle
their local civil defense problems
for several weeks. These prepara.
tionS for an attack must be made
before the attack, for once the
attack develops, it is too late to
start recruiting and organizing
civil defense. There are many per
ons who believe these local func-
tions will and can be undertaken
by the Military under the guise of
military government or martial
law This is contrary to the de-
clared National Policy and beyond
the capabilities of the Military for
several reasons:
1. Martial law and military gov.
ernment are contrary to the funda-
mental principles of the American
people.
| 2. Once martial law is establish
ed, it is difficult to revert to the
civil government.
3. The primary mission of the
military is military operations a.
gainst the enemy, and their capa-
bihties should not be diverted to
civil defense functions.
4. The military do not have the
trained personnel or the facilities
to undertake this function:
1T we accept the premise that
our country may be subject to at
tack ard that as citizens we have
an interest in the survival of our
nation and the American way of |
life, we are then faced with the |
question as to our part in our
nations defense. We in Civil De-
fenSe believe that Civil Defense
has an important part and we
would like to see Civil Defense
in a position to be effective. /
AT the present time, the State
Staff if much smaller than it was
year ago, and our request for
supplementary appropriation for
Matching Funds for purchase of
equipment has not been acted up
on by the General Assembly. AS a
result, the effectiveness of the
State office has been lessened. H
However, we have been able to
secure Federal grant for limit
ed time for a State Survival Study
to develop Survival plans for the
State and counties and to coor-
dinate them with adjacent states.
We had hopes that upon the com.
pletion of these plans this sum-
mer, we would be able to secure
additional personnel for the State
staff so that these plans could be
perfected and implemented, and
the statutory responsibilities of the
be met.
feel quite sure that the mem.
bers of the General Assembly re-
alize the Importance of the survival
Of our country and the essential
part assigned to civil defense. ]
also feel the General Assembly
viii assume its responsibilities to
he people of Delaware to provide
he means for the Department of
Civil Defense to undertake its sta
utory mission.
Respectfully.
r. n. Downes