Evening star., 1938-10-19
Washington Observations
German Catapult Demonstration Shows Bombing
Attack Possibilities in u. S. Waters.

Fascist powers have discarded the old
fashioned and outmoded practice Of
declaring wars. They simply start
them. Theoretically, whole fleet of
Friesenlands might drop anchor in
American territorial waters on ostensi-
bly, peaceful missions and catapult
German planes for bombing of New
York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Will
mington and Washington almost be-
fore an unsuspecting Uncle Sam real
lied what all the shooting was about.
Our naval and military authorities
haven't yet entirely recovered from
their surprise over the unannounced
arrival of high-poWered German
plane, with crew of four, in New
York last August, after 24-hour nom
stop flight from Berlin, and an equally
spectacular return trip at the same
dizzy speed. Nor is our memory of
World War days already so frayed that |
we've forgotten how German U-boats
suddenly bobbed up of our Shores
in neutrality days, for allegedly inno-
cent purposes, or on subsequent occa-
sions how the Kaiser's submarines
maneuvered off the Atlantic seaboard
in successful quest Of allied shipping
quarry.
To my notice, and from an excep-
tionally authoritative quarter in Wash
ipgton, has just been brought dis
turbingly graphic picture of Germany's
air force supremacy. Reports in pos
session Of the administration indicate
that the Reich's airplane daily pro-
ductive capacity is 40 machines,
which are turned out like Ford cars
on the assembly line at Detroit,
complete to the last nut, bolt and rivet,
and ready to fly. British production
is about eight planes a day, Frances
about four. AS Italy can turn out
some eight machines daily, the dicta-
torshps' aggregate output of 48 is Just
about four times the number which
the democratic plants can produce.
Moreover, the combined German -Ital-
ian air force now in being is said to
be approximately commensurate as to
preponderance over the Anglo French
force, with the productive facilities
just mentioned. These are the cold
facts and figures, Washington is con-
vlnced, which compelled Chamberlain
and Daladler to submit to Hitlers
terms for peace in our time" They
are also the conditions which are
squirting London and Paris to perfect
their offensive and defensive strength
without moments delay The terror
Of terrors in Downing Street and the
Quai d'Orsay is whether the aggressor
powers, knowing the democracies' vul-
nerability, will stand by inactively
while Britain and France prepare to
immunize themselves against such
threats as those which paralyzed their
action four weeks ago today at Prague
and Munich.
Among recent Washington arrivals
from Europe are Mr.. and Mrs. James
R. Barbour. who sailed from France
September 81, at the height of the war
experience under kindred conditions.
Mr.. Barbour was living in Paris in 1914
as the head of the French branch Of
New York bank and left the city,
along with thousands of Americans
and other foreigners, just before the
battle Of the Marne, while Marshal
Joffre's famous fleet of taxicabs
rushed poillls to the front for the des-
perate defense of Paris Mr.. and Mrs.
Barbour were vastly interested in the
contrast between things in September,
1914, and those which prevailed last