The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-09-11
European Letter.
Nazis' Greater
War Strength
Frets France


Paris, Sept. -rrenchnen who
saw IN their own establishment Of q
two-year term Of military serylce,
announced over Q year ESQ, merely 9
necessary defensive measure, per-
ceive today IN 0ermany's similar
step @ grave menace Of aggression
against the peace Of Europe.
The upspoken fact behind Hitler's
nuectacuiar move-news Of which
reached Paris on the heels Of the
news Of German agreement to main
tain neutrality toward Spain with
dramatic suddenness - Is that
France, compared to Germany Is o
little country. Germany, by apply
ing q two-year term Of military SER
vice brings her regular army, In
cluding Reichswehr and conscripts,
up to 1,365,000 men under arms.
france, applying the same two
year term, has about 100000 men
under arms. mostly conscripts, al
though there is q small stanoing
arnnly similar to the Retchswenr
and used mostly In the French
colonies.
Hitler Rocks Boat
Analysing the published motive
behind Eitler's move-fear Of attack
by Soviet Russia Frenchmen sheer
heartily In their sleeves. There Is
$50 miles Of Polish territory between
the Soviet and the German from
tiers. Russia is thoroughly occupied
with troubles to the eastward--the
menace Of Japan. Russia, territor-
Tally satisfied, wants nothing. but
peace In order to exploit and de-
veiop her potential industrial wealth
so the German reason, as seen IN
Paris, Is merely an excuse by which
Hitler can achieve his aim: to make
Germany the dominant nation OF
Europe.
action, as explained BY Frenchmen,
is economic. Germany has been un-
able to correct q bad economic posi-
ton which the Nazis have always
blamed on preceding democratic
regimes In that land. Even the
miracle working DR.. Schaht hasn't
succeeded in producing even the
aspect Of prosperity. To enlist APP
proximately half q million young.
sters into the army wipes out that
much potential unemployment. How
they will be paid and boarded Is
up to DR.. Schacht and the Nazi
board of strategy. Since there Is
no historical precedent for the
amount Of deprivation o "totalitar-
ian state" can demand OF It's popu-
lation, nobody knows what the
limits are. Meanwhile, the uniform
business thrives.
"a sweet aftermath Of the olym-
pic games Is how the French view
tho present German move. And 1t
Is peen as Just another action by
Hitler to rock the boat Of European
politics and to keep 1t rocking. In
Paris 1t Is seen as by far the most
important piece Of boat-rocking yet
tried out.
Rift Is Seen
A good many Frenchmen, casting
about for some means OF counter.
acting the present situation, see
nothing but q serious effort to pre-"
serve and strengthen the French
pact with Russia Is D solution.
"What II Russia Is Soviet?" de-
Ynands Leon Archimbaud, deputy
and member Of the army commits.
sion Of the chamber. "A country has
4 right to the regime 1t wants.
Meanwhile, Russia has offered us
her army. We would DO wrong 70
refuse IT,"
Il is pointed out that the Fran
eo.soyiet pact.-which many right
wing Frenchmen vigorously con-
demr,-was not arranged BY the
PEOPLES Front government. II was
already In effect when Leon Blum
came TO power, having been pro-
mulgated by Premier Pierre Lava
and signed by the moderate pre-
Ynier, p. q. Flandin. So the effort
to attack Blum because OF this pact
falls to the ground.
Warning To England
Meanwhile, Paris believes that the
new German step will do much TO
open British eyes TO the real facts
about Germany. Maybe, the optim.
lists here suggest, 1t will be the end
OF the irritation Of the filtration
between Downing street and the
Wiihelmstrasse. The simultaneous
success Of French efforts to neu-
tralize the Spanish civil war gave
a spectacular demonstration Of what
solidarity between European demo-
cracies-namely, Britain and France
Can accomplish. FrenchmeIl are
hoping today that the effect OF the
lesson will not be lost In crossing
the English Channel.