Evening star., 1938-03-20
Capture Of Austria Passes
Without Shattering Peace
Every Foreign Office Was Forewarned Hitler
Intended to Accomplish Anschluss
This Spring.
This Spring.


the navy and the execution Of 10 raanv
other younger officers -regimental COM
manders and especially aviators-has
undermined whatever military power the
SOVIET government could boast of IL months
ago. There have been serious cases of
sabotage IN Russian factories manufacture.
ing war material. The program for roads
to the Polish and the Czechoslavak.
Rumanian borders is still a blue print,
In short, Russia might be able to offer
resistance to an invading army. but is
certainly nowhere near as we'll prepared
for an offensive war as she was in 1895
and early In 1887. With Italy acquiescent
and the governments opposed to Germany's
aims either unwilling or incapable of chal-
lenging Hitler, there is nothing to prevent
the Relchsfuehrer from accomplishing the
major portions of his program for the
expansion of Germany.
or course. ALLEGES are directed now 10.
wards Czechoslovakia What will happen
when Hitler decides to take up the ques-
ton OF the Sudeten Germans?
Exposed II Duce's Aims.
So far as is known, Mussolini, who has
never had much liking for the Czecho-
slovaks since they exposed his illicit re-
arming Of Hungary before the League of
Nations In 1929, Is quite prepared to give
his blessing to anything Hitler may want
to do in that quarter. The British how
ever. are urging Berlin with all the srgu-
ments at their disposal not to preciptate
another crisis by forcing the issue with
the Czechoslovaks. There have been many
discussions as to what the Fuehrer woulc
do in the Central European republic and
all the indications pointed towards
military operation. But this will probably
be the last card Berlin will play. The
fact that Germany can starve out Czecho-
slovakia economically has been frequently
overlooked.
The Czechoslovaks are using as their
main outlet to the sea the old Hanseatic
ports-Hamburg and Bremen. The river
Elbe Is their principal artery Of COM
munication with these sea ports Trans
port by water Of course, is much cheaper
than by land. Should the German Roy-
ernment ever decide to close the river.
which flows through Germany. to Csecho-
slovakian commerce, the little republic
would be In serious plight
There have been hints from Berlin that
such action might be taken and these
hints" have worried Messrs. Eenes, Hodza
and Krofta more than the suggestion that
the Sudeten Germans might rise or that
German troops might cross the Czecho-
slovakian borders.
Refused to Sign Pact
It has been pointed out recently that
Hitler refused two years ago to sign an
agreement regarding the internationaliza-
tion of the waterways. He said then that
the rivers which flow through the German
territory are German and not interna-
tional. This refusal fits neatly into the
plan to squeeze the Czechoslovakians bv
closing the river Elbe when 1t enters the
territory of the Reich
One can only speculate. however, on
whether this or more spectacular method
will be adopted by the F>uehrer.
The fact remains that the European
foreign offices and the State Department
in Washington expect in the course Of the
next few weeks-probably in May-another
move by Germany to clinch its present
advantage in Central Europe and present
the world with a solid Nazi-Fascist front
extending from the Rhine to the Vistula.
Whether such action will precipitate
European conflaration depends on 50
many factors that no official or private
person dares forecast. But for the time
being. it is felt that the spectacular
Austrian crisis Is worrying but not inl-
minently dangerous to the peace of Il,
world
(Copyrght, 1887