Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-03-07
War Probabilities

A thoughtful student OF world affairs sees. as he
looks around our globe, at least three approaching con-
flicts between nations, any one Of which Is a serious
menace to world peace. One of them is almost a pres
et reality. The other two involve the balance OF
world power so tremendously that they would bring
the risk of war to many other nations as well.
Mussolini, the Italian Dictator, is sending soldiers
to Northwestern Africa, strengthening the military
power in the Italian Somaliland and Eritrea. Adjacent
to both Of these provinces lies the only independent
African kingdom, Abyssinia. ruled by a picturesque
king who claims a descent from Solomon and the
Queen Of Sheba. Eritrea, with French and British
Somalland shut off the African kingdom from the sea
to the North; Italian Somaliland blocks the road to
the sea ON the East.
Border disturbances have given Mussolini an ex-
cuse to demand from Abyssinia redress and satisfac-
ton, having apparently arranged the matter with
France, apparently determined to expand Italy's ter
ritory. In 1896, the Abyssinian ruler, Menelek, de-
feated an Italian army at Adowa and the Italian prob
ably wish to avenge the disastrous war. Press dis
patches at the present time state that some Of the ad-
visors OF Mussolini have warned him that a campaign
against Abyssinia would not be an easy task and that
it would be best not to push the issue to an extreme.
In Europe the possibility of joint designs OF Ger
many and Poland against Russian territory causes I'm
easiness. 1t is suggested that Poland would be will
ing to give up the Danzig Corridor and Germany might
have Silesia II ON the other hand Poland we're aided
to secure Lithuania, the Nieman Corridor and a gen.
erous slice OF the Ukraine. To achieve this result war
against Russia would be necessary and the plan In
cludes having Japan attack Russia in the Far East at
the same time. Some think that this danger is being
postponed until Japan consolidates her new territorial
grabs in the Far East and gets the Chinese situation
more completely under its thumb.
In the Far East Japan at the present time Is seek
ing to take over the control Of China more than ever.
Rumors are that demands even more stringent than
the Twentyone during the World War days have been
formulated and presented to China, which is in a dill
emma because she has seen that the Western world
will not take any effective steps to protect her against
Japanese aggression. When the nations allowed jap
an to violate her treaties and steal Manchuria and
Jehol from China the Chinese naturally came to the
conclusion that the outside world would not safeguard
her interests.
The third possibility OF war involves the United
States. There can be no denying that the Japanese
look upon this country as a potential opponent In war.
They consider Russia in somewhat the same category
but they can understand why the Russians are rivals,
feeling that both want Chinese territory. On the other
hand the Japanese do not quite grasp why the United
States should SO forcefully oppose their mdstreatment
Of the Chinese.
The strong stand taken by the Secretary OF State
Stimson against Japanese action In Manchuria, the
location Of the American battlefield in the Pacific
Ocean and the recently announced plans OF new naval
construction and increased fertilization In the Pacific,
including enlarged air bases in Alaska and Hawaii, are
used by Japanese ~jingoists to increse their military
forces and alarm the Japanese people Of coming Am
erican aggression.
1t would be very idle to say that the danger OF
war between the United States and Japan has not In
creased considerably within the last five years. Other
nations would be involved, as shown by recent speech.
es Of General Smuts who recognizes the fact that the
British Dominions of Canada, Australia and New Tea
land would in all probability follow the American pol.
icy against Japan, even II the home government
sought to avoid such a course.
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