Evening star., 1933-09-10

ing the last 10 years, IN Whlcn
time I have closely followed
i European events, I am con-
vinced that major conflict Is
near at hand. France, Italy. Ger
many and (eXcellent barometer) SWltz-
erland have very recently made ofn-
cial moves which have uncovered a
state of expectancy and degree OF
War-mindedness unknown here since
the signing of the treaty.
England alone among the chief fac
tors in the European drama has made
no unmistakably significant play.
British subjects on the Continent have.
however, revealed by individual action
their apprehensiveneSs over the Euro
pean state of mind.
The outstanding revelation, of course,
came when the French premier
finished his official ('incognito" he
called it, to explain away the small
crowds that greeted him) inspection
of the gigantic system Of subterranean
fortifications. munitions depots, sup
ply bases, etc. along the Eastern from
tier, with Metz as its key.
Built on Gigantic Scale.
Nothing in the history of military
science has been conceived and exc
cuted on scale comparable with this
French system. beside which the work
of such a great military engineer as
Vauban seems childish. It is to the
modern war game what the Great Wall
of China was to the Orient Of thou
sand years ago. The details OF this
system, which includes whole under
ground railway organizations, miles OK
mine ne-exploding devices an6 river
diversion system capable oS<f1o0ding go
square miles of territory in a short
time, will be discussed later.
The second important development
came at the conclusion Of month OF
maneuvering on the part of 100000
Italian troops in war game designed
to test the practicability of plans for
an Italian thrust into the French
formerly Italian) Riviera. Mussolini
was present during the last Two days Of
the maneuvers and expressed satisfac-
ton with them. In few hours he
was back in Rome bidding farewell to
Senor Starace. secretary-general Of
the Fascists of Italy, and, therefore.
right-hand man to II Duce. En- route
to Berlin. Starace stopped in Munich
to put a wreath on the tomb of the
German Fascists killed in the 1882
"putsch" which paved the way to the
taking over of the government by the
Hitlerites. He next conferred with
Hitler and then went to the Fascist
Congress at Nurnberg throwing,
thereby, new light on German Italian
relations.
The third development was the OPEN
ing of the immense German airport
on the border of Austria. followed by
unmistakable signs of the continuing
growth of pro-German sentiment In
r<~io % tIa nf ha l.
fussites. Both the Italians and the
Austrians seem to be sustaining Doll
fuss primarily for the sake of making
satisfactory arrangements with the
Hitlerites, rather than with any hope
of permanently upholding his regime
in the face of the powerful Pan-Ger-
man sentiment in Austria.
Return to Germany" Sentiment.
The fourth revelation was in the ex-
tent and audacity of the anti-French
sentiment Cor, more accurately, the
return to Germany" ssntiment) with
in the border territory taken from Ger
many under the Versailles treaty.
(This territory was German for 1000
years, then, after conquest, was held
by France for about 180 years, Ger
many retaking it in 1870 and retain
ing it until 1918, when it was trans
ferred to France)
1t was this upheaval in this ere
deemed 'reconquered" or stolen"
territory (according to ones viewpoinD
which forced the French government
to reveal its military strength in East
ern France by the premier's visit, fol-
lowed by the publication for the first
time of the details concerning the
French constructions in that area.
From the international standpoint
with disarmament talk still the fash
ion and with debts to the United
States pushed aside) it had been re-
garded as highly unwise to expose the
magnitude Of the French preparations.
sure made such a show Of strength
seem desirable-Norman Davis and
American debts be damned!
Premier Daladier's opening words to
the Teutonic citizens of Strassburg
were significant I'VE are all French, "
he began, which was hardly natural
salutation If he had considered the
audience genuinely French. ''The
might of France" he continued, here
revealed, Is dedicated to keeping us SO. "
He then allowed the press to publish
descriptions with many important
items, such as exact geographical To-
catlOQ OF Cne cnleI posts, Acpt ScCIetJ
of the French system, which, in addi-
ton to its astounding defensive
strength, has powerful offensive pos
sibilities.
In spite of this removal Of the silk
glove to impress its own restless citi-
zens and to restrain its enemies abroad,
the anti-French manifestations have
continued in the recovered" areas.
According to reports in the French
newspapers, $4,000 persons, large part
of them technically French. participated
in the Return to Germany" demon
stration held today just across the bor-
der in Germany. Alarmed at the situ-
alton, French newspapers are calling
the attention of their government to
the fact that counter-demonstration
to show pro-French feeling was at
tended by only 200 persons.
OF course, those figures do not reflect
the relative strength Of the pro-French
and prot German elements. They do re-
fleet, however, their relative aggressive
SAN important factor. Certain