The Washington times., 1934-02-13
By H. r. KNICKERBOCKER
International News Service Staff
COrrespOndent

ny h N. AINAONEnDOONE
International News Service Staff
Correspondent
Copyright. 1884 by International News
Service.)
Reproduction in Whole of Part Forbidden
DANZIG, Feb. 13 GNS0.-Ten
million lives of Europeans and
Americans have been saved in this
city of Danzig. That many lives
were lost on the battlefields Of
1914-1918. At least that many
would be lost in the next war.
That war was scheduled to begin
In Danzig. Today, it is evident
that war is not going to begin
here, and Hitler the war-maker
has become Hitler the peace-maker
as the Lord of Danzig.
For today DanZig is Nazi, and
for the first time in 13 years
Danzig is at peace with the Poles.
Like a Miracle
For the first time since the war,
Danzig has been eliminated from
its number one place in the list Of
the probable seats of war. It's
place there was so sure, and the
chances of preventing war here
seemed so slim, that today it is
no exaggeration to put this peace
news in the headlines that nor
mally belong to war, and to ex-
press it in terms Of millions OF
lives saved.
But what has America to do
with Danzig?
How could American lives de-
pend upon what happens in this
ancient HanSeatic city that be-
longed to Germany, was taken
from her. made into a free city
under the League Of Nations, and
declared a port for Poland?
What has Nazi Danzig'S new
found peace with Poland to do
with the United States?
A GruesOme Picture
Just this:
There was one nightmare that
troubled the sleep of European
statesmn more than any other.
They saw Hitler come to power in
Germany. They saw his storm
troops batter every Nazi enemy
into submission. They knew that
Danzig would go Nazi in the elec'
tions of May a year ago. They
pictured storm troops batterlng
Poles.
But Just outside this city stand
the regiments of Poland. Two
hours is the maximum time the
Poles would require to take the
city.
They take it.
The storm troops, equipped to
meet a regular army, fight back
and their brothers just across
the line in German East Prussia,
come to their rescue.
The Poles invade East Prussia.
Germany mobilizes, and its
2,5O0,O0O storm troops, S. S.,
brown shirts and black, steel
helmets, and reichswehr are called
to arms.
France leaps to the flag. The
BelgianS, the Czechs, RumanianS
and Jugoslavians keep their trea-
ties with the tricolor and shoul-
der guns. The league secretariat
wrings it's hands.
What of United States?
The war is on.
All Europe blaZes.
England watches. Could she
keep neutral?
The consensus Of European
opinion is mo"
America watches. Could we
keep neutral?
The experience of the last war
Is all we have to guide us.
H. G.. Wells in THE Shape of
Things to Come" starts his Last |
War Cyclone, 194O-1950" in Dan
zig. Here in the Danzig railroad
station the great English seer
finds an unfortunate Polish Jew
ish travelling man who, suffering |
from an orange seed in his false
teeth, sticks his head out of the
window, grimaces at a Danzig |
storm-trooper, and thereby starts |
a row that ends with European
war and the collapse of civiliZa-
ton.
Got An Indemnity
It is inconceivable today.
What happened when the Nazis
won SO per cent IN the city elec-
/~G.-J - D. q ri oN