The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-15

d1Cler mas DeeI1 RlVlLlS GeIA in Europe.
 His troops are spotlessly uni- formed. They goose-step with the precision of a Ford factory supp ply belt. His navy is the newest in the world and one of Europe's most efacient. The German air force is the largest in the world.
 Germany's military strength is better trained, better equipped, better disciplined than any in Europe. So the big question wor- rying his neighbors (reported also to be worrying hin) is: "What is he going to do with it?"
 New Anti-AIlies Tricks
 So far Hitler's political popu- 1arity has rested chiefly upon his ability to pull out new tricks, calculated to rifle the ex-Allies and arouse German patriotic fer vor. But now, except for the re- turn of colonies, he has exhausted the Versailles Treaty tricks. The bag is about empty.
 That is why the war clouds look so black over Europe. War can be a happy way out for a slipping dictator. Hitler may de- eide finally to take it.
 NOTE-Those who keep their ears close to the ground of Ger many public opinion estimate that Hitler now has between 40 and 50 per cent of the people be- hind him. He once had 80 to 90 per cent.
 Behind the Dressing
 Sitting in the Adlon hotel eat- ing a sumptuous breakfast of ham and eggs, a stranger never would dream that Germany was hard up for food. But the Adlon is window-dressing for the visitor.
 Elsewhere it is a different story. American newspapermen living in Berlin have been given butter cards, along with other Berliners. They are entitled to only so much butter per week.
 At times in recent weeks, staid German housewives visiting the meat market have been surprised to find no sausage. The supply was exhausted. This is no laugh ing matter. Sausage is to Berlin as gossip is to Washington. Ber- liners cannot be happy without it. Raw Materials
 A member of the American em- bassy staff blew an automobile tire and went around to the garage to buy a new one.
 He was informed that he couldn't-at least not until he had made formal application. This, it was estimated, would take three months.
 Rubber is a scarce article fin Germany. So also are fats, iron ore. cotton, copper and oil.
 Whether there are enough sup plies in the country to wage any major war is highly doubtful. Thus Hitler's vast military edifice may be built on a very shaky foundation. But the general staff seems most determined none the less.
 Army Rule
 Best behind -the-scenes infor- tion points to the general staff as the real ruler of Germany. Hitler is more than a figurehead. But more and more the general staff virtually gives him orders.
 The generals recognize in Hitler a powerful political in- fiuence, great speech-maker. They use him as such. General staff ideas for his speeches are sent to him on little chits of paper. And usually he incor- porates them in his harangues.
 Hitler's speech at Nuremberg, in which he hinted at war be- tween Germany and Russia, was definitely dictated by the general staff.
 In other words, Germany, in military sense, is about where she was back in the days of the Kaiser.
 Liberia
 Though the American people congratulate themselves that they have no entanglements with Europe, one responsibility brings them face to face with Germany.
 It is an obscure but wealthy African country, settled by Amer ican Negroes prior to the Civil war in an effort to repatriate the Negro.
 The United States always has taken a paternal interest in Liberia, lent 1t money, advisers, been responsible for it's debts. Very recently Cordell Hull ad- dressed a round robin letter to France, Great Britain and others urging that these coun- tries follow the American ex- ample of recognizing the Liber- ian government.
 Pure sentimentality may not count for much, but U. s. invest ments do. The Firestone Rubber company operates a magnificent rubber plantation in Liberia. It is conceivable that the United States might do lot of arguing ~Nw1v1 Iv,vww@ V~w<~N~~