The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-09-29


meet the added costs entailed under
the MIRA scheme. Hundreds Of in
stances were reported where firms and
individuals simply did not have the
resources, after three years of strug-
gle, with which to meet the new drain.
They had to be helped over the hump
between the time when they assumed
the new obligation of the blue eagle
insignia and the day when it would
produce returns to the business.
Banking authorities are not certain
that the plan will work.
From banking authorities, I learn
that there is better chance of some
benefit accruing under the Reconstruc-
ton Finance corporation plan in the
West and South, agricultural areas,
than in the East, where manufacturing
predominates. Money rates seem to
be higher in the West and South than
in the districts where larger volume
Of money is handled. 1t may be, then,
that maximum rate of per cent
will cause borrowings to take place
which seek to hike the interest charges
too high.
From our own war on the depres-
sion, it seems to me we ought to turn
our eyes moment
The Foreign to conditions abroad
Situation that depict to many
observers a state Of
"war- mindedness" that has not been
evident since the end Of the world
conflict in 1918. One can gain little
satisfaction from interviews among
our own government officials, respect
ing the potentialities of the foreign sit
uation, because remarks from officials
Of the Washington government at this
time would simply add fuel to the
flame. Nevertheless, it does no good
to ape an ostrich and hide ones head
in the sand. The most unframed OBJ
server can see the potential dangers
once the facts are made known.
In France, in Italy, in Germany, and
even in Switzerland, that little republic
that always has been barometer of
international relationships, there Is
evidence of war planning. Even in
our country, attention can be called to
the program for building up the navy.
Our government says it wants navy
Of the strength allowed by the London
and Washington treaties, and by build
ing it now, work is made available for
the unemployed. England alone, of
all of the major powers, seems to be
making few steps toward arming.
Interest has centered in gigantic
fertilization along its frontier that
the French government has construct
ed. No one knows what it has cost,
or will cost when ultimately paid for;
it is known only that there has been
constructed a veritable concrete and
steel system of subterranean for
tresses, passageways, munitions depots
and supply bases along the frontier
for about one hundred miles, and that
these one hundred miles roughly con-
stitute the boundary between Germany
and Italy on the one hand and the
French ON the other.
But the operations of the other pow
ers should not be overlooked. The
Italian government lately has put 160,-
600 men through maneuvers in ter
ritory that might naturally be the To-
Gale from which 'putsch" into
France would be attempted, and little
Switzerland doubled the size of the
army it annually calls out for maneu-,
vers. This action was explained as
training in the defensive" for the
army, but at least it was bit unusual.
The Germans, under Adolph Hitler's
direction, lately have completed and
opened for business
War Clouds what is said to be
Ouer Europe one Of the largest
Of airports on the
European continent. 1t is located al
most on the border between Germany
and Austria, and some qualified OBJ
servers maintain it was placed there
because of the growing pro-German
sentiment in Austria. Their thought
is that Hitler expects some time to
have control of Austria, and he as
sured the pro-Germans of Austria that
he is looking after their interests by
providing an air fertilization where 1t
will be of assistance to them in event
of trouble from outside of the two ma
lions. In other words, the implication
is that Germany is gradually coaxing
Austria back into an alliance such as
existed under Kaiser Wilhelm.
In addition to these things, one can
not overlook the Hitler assertions that
are strongly anti-French, nor the Mus
solini declarations indicating he will
have more territory, nor the fact that
the French have 6S0,OOO men under
arms this year. Likewise, it. cannot
be passed as insignificant that Brit
ishers are reported to be steadily dis
posing of French real estate holdings,
investments that have been heavy in
years past. 1t may be only hot-head-
edness on the part of the statesmen,
so-called, now in power in those sew
eral nations, or it may be that there