解:$\because BE⊥ CE,$$AD⊥ CE,$
$\therefore ∠ E = ∠ ADC = 90°,$
$\therefore ∠ EBC + ∠ BCE = 90°,$$∠ CAD + ∠ DCA = 90°。$
$\because ∠ ACB = 90°,$即$∠ BCE + ∠ DCA = 90°,$
$\therefore ∠ EBC = ∠ DCA,$$∠ BCE = ∠ CAD。$
在$△ CEB$和$△ ADC$中,
$\begin{cases} ∠ EBC = ∠ DCA, \\ BC = CA, \\ ∠ BCE = ∠ CAD, \end{cases}$
$\therefore △ CEB ≌ △ ADC(\mathrm{ASA}),$
$\therefore BE = CD,$$CE = AD。$
$\because BE = 1,$$AD = 3,$
$\therefore CD = 1,$$CE = 3,$
$\therefore DE = CE - CD = 3 - 1 = 2。$