Evening star., 1936-11-11
SPANS War Eases Situation
In Europe, Correspondent Says
Frederick Oechsner Sees
Conflict Possible
Safety Valre.
BY yESTA CUMMINGS.

The Spanish civil war has tenn
porarily taken the edge of the in
ternational situation in Europe, In
the opinion of Frederick Gable Oechs-
ner. former member of The Star staff
who Is visiting in Washington today
on his way back to Europe after his
first holiday in the United States
since 1929.
Oechsner has won fame as cor
respondent in Germany, Czechoslo-
vakia, Poland and the Baltic coun-
tries and makes his headquarters In
Berlin.
MY own belief that continental
war clouds are ascending to a less
menacing altitude as a result OF the
conflict in Spain is contrary to the
belief Of many Europeans, who are
inclined to regard it as a stimulus
to a general war, with the Commu-
nists and Fascists at each others
throats," Oechsner. said.
But no nation in Europe is physl-
cally ready for or wants war az
this time and the Spanish hosullties
are, in my opinion, sort OF safety
valve for the rest of the continent,
rather than a casus belll.
Predicts Early End.
"The loyalists say that the taking
of Madrid will make no difference"
Oechsner pointed out, land that they
will 60 on fighting, but with the seat
of the government recently moved
to Valencia and rumors abroad that
It will soon be transferred to Bar
celona am inclined to think that
the rebellion will subside in few
weeks"
The issue Of communism against
fascism is a tub Europeans have
been humping loudly ever since
Summer brought fighting in Spain.
but Oechsner sees no likelihood OF
the aggression becoming general for
a year or a year and half, although
he is convinced that another Euro
pean war is in the cards by that
time. He expresses the greatest con-
tempt for the folly that is leading
to a conflict without logical cause
and from which no one possibly can
gain anything.
Asked about the possible lineup
for the next conflict, Oechsner said
that although it may not necessarily
start between Germany and Russia,
that they will inevitably be on oppo-
site sides.
Probable Lineup.
for tho II
1t comes, he said. might be Germany.
Japan and Italy against Russia and
France, with Poland. who holds nom
aggression pacts with both France
and Russia, highly important enig-
ma. One notion he holds which some
authorities regard as fantastic, Oechs-
ner said, is that he does not believe
it impossible for Great Britain and
Japan to be allies, even though the
Oriental power is threatening Eng
lish supremacy in Asia.
While Oechsner thinks any imn1e-
diate threat of a world war is over
as far as Spain is concerned, he be-
lieves that with all nations arming it
will take less and less to provoke war
rs EUCS OLl. Ii1GllOdSAl Pog
chology of German military organiza-
tions is now purely defensive, Oechs-
ner believes the bridge from de-
fensive to an offensive attitude is al
ways a short and unimportant one.
What he regards as most significant
Is that German youth is being in
stilled with glories of war and the
honor of dying for the fatherland.
From the German point of view
boys and girls who worship heroes
are preferable to those without or
ganized ideals of any sort, like the
young people of postwar Germany.
Then bands of vagabonds became
known as "wanderfugel," and for the
most part eventually came under the
influence of chauvinists who polit-
acalized them.
Today German youth Is taught to