Evening star., 1938-08-15
BRITAIN COOLEST
AMID WAR FEARS
Rumors Hitler Is Planning
Czech Strike Are Held
Without Logic.
BY DE WITT MACKENZIE.


4 Associated Press Foreign Affairs Writer
NEW YORK, Aug. l5-This is the
day Europe's dame rumor-a neurotic
lady of questionable stability-has ad-
vertised in her everlasting tea-table
gossip as Der Tag for a military inva-
sion of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Ger
many.
That sort of thing is like yelling
fire in a crowded theater and she
naturally has succeeded in causing
q considerable panic throughout most
> of Europe.
And as always the case in a panic,
the danger to life and limb is vastly
increased. That is to say, there is
much more prospect of an explosion
simply because jittery countries see
hold-up man on every dark corner
and are creeping about witt, uncertain
fingers twitching on the triggers of
= their pistols
Britain Is Coolest.
About the coolest of the lot is
Unconditional Britain, the policeman
OF Europe" If John~Bull is worried
land one suspects that he may be
somewhat uneasy he is making a
rather convincing display of uncon-
Germ on the surface. Without raising
-his voice in too much emphasis he
has been pooh pooling dame rumor's
gossip.
British ministers of state are holi-
dsying. and England goes her way
placidly, with her burden of maintain
ing peace packed up in her old vaca-
ton kit. Gables from Scotland re-
a port that the grouse season opened
auspiciously on August l2-the "glori-
ods 18th the British sportsman calls
this day Of days
Still. the Briton is an adept at
concealing his emotions. I've seen
British officer stalk straight into the
death zone on the battle front with
a broad grin on his face.
MaN1ap Dame Rumor is right this
time. If you keep on playing long
shots you are likely to hit winner
sooner or later. Certainly there is
sufficient circumstantial evidence to
warrant uneasiness
But if this thing should come off
IT will represent the superlative of
madness on the part of those who
start the show. In other words, the
rumor just doesn't make sense.
True, Germany is engaged in vast
army maneuvers, involving a million
men, and is indulging in other martial
pursuits; Italy, too, has been engaged
in maneuvers, and MuSsolini has
sounded the dangers of war again in
one of his graphic speeches; France
has virtually forbidden her citizens to
visit Italy. this being in retaliation for
Italian reluctance to grant passports
for travel in Europe. 1t isn't very
sresssuring picture.
However. just stop and consider the
full import of the prediction that Nazi
Czechoslovakia by force Assume, if
you will, that Mussolini would back
up his close ally, which is far from
certain.
This presumably would mean that
Russia and France would rush to the
aid of Czechoslovakia, with whom they
have an alliance for mutual defense.
Britain would be drawn in almost au-
tomatically on the side of France
and another European war would be
in full swing.
That would mean Germany alone
or possibly Germany and Italy against
virtually all the rest of Europe, barring
few small neutrals. The idea that
ITALY and Germany could carry such
burden successfully is held to be
preposterous in most quarters. They
would simply be bringing catastrophe
on all Europe, including themselves
1t is very hard to believe that Herr
Hitler who, whether you agree with
his policies, is credited with being a
far-seeing individual, would deliberate
~ pull down about his ears the