The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-09-16
Europe Nearer War
 Than M IS Years
Continued from Page D

1885, the leaders of Europe feared that war might be imminent when Chancellor Adolf Hitler tore up the military clauses of the Versailles treaty and announced the formation of 0 modern German army.
 e Peace Hangs by Thread
 European peace again hung by Q slender thread at the outbreak ot the Italo- Ethiopian war when Great Britain sent the major portion or her fleet to the Mediterranean and nearly precipitated war with Italy.
 More recently when Germany moved her armed legions into the Rhineland the wardrums again peat throughout Europe but, again, the men who make the policies of Europe were not ready for war.
 In the early days of the Spanisn civil war when the opposing political philosophies of fascism and com raunisrn first came to open grips In Europe's unsettled political arena Q general war involving Italy, Ger many and France appeared imr1- nent, The threat passed.
 Through all these successive crises administration leaders here have been aroused to concern TOT world peace, but through them all thew have felt confident that a real outbreak would be averted by wise ststesmanship and poker playing eense not to push the bluff too lar
 GiKantic Poker Game
 Leaders here-and they include 'cur military and naval officers as well as state department officials recognize the international game being played in Europe as gigan- fic poker game, with men and guns being used in lieu of chips, and nat nral resources the pot" represent ad by those chips. They look upon Hitler as the heaviest plunger in the game, at present playing des- perate game of bluff. V They believe that the object of his present bluff is to induce, or 10 3righten, France into remuneration of the Franco Russian mutual SC. scurity pact. Hitler desires to be rid of the spectre of armed France on his back in event Germany goes to war with Russia.
 0ermany's noisy quarreling with Russia during the past week IS re- garded here as notice:
 Warnings of Germany
 ' l. That Germany will not reatfirm the Locarno settlements, toward which France is now striving, 80 1ong as Frances mutual security snact with Russia exists. z 2, To the SovietS that any inter Ference by Russia with Germany's present plan for economic pressure bn Csechoslovakia to swing that country into the afscist column Will he met with immediate war.
 !. a To France that the alliance with Russia exposes France to the danger of being dragged into Q dis Astrous war to assist Russia, with little chance of gaining anything Ahereby. The unpredecented batting of the Soviets by Hitler, 1t IS be- iieved here, Is practically Q chal- leree to Russia to make the attack. Clever Game of Hitler
 ' The long-run objective of Hitlers present maneuvering, 1t Is believed is economic domination of Czeho. sloVakia, tying that country polit- acaIly to Germany. This would give Germany . friendly country through which to march Nazi legions to the very borders of Russia.
 Czechoslovikia also is an import ant munitions producing country only a short distance form her borders lie the great Transvanian oil fields from which come one Of the pricipal sinews of war which Hitler would need in event of war with Russia.
 \ Ofacials here believe that when fhe way has been opened through Czechoslovakia for the Nazi hordes, and the avenue has been opened for oil supplies from the great fields just to the southwest, Ger many will be ready to strike, and not until then. The question up- permost in military minds here iS whether the Soviets will or can stand by and wait for that time.