Evening star., 1939-09-21
Movements on Europes Bott|efieIds-Doy by Day
couon Major Offensive Necessary stoeqy;
British Empire Put on Spot by Noz- Soviet Pressure
By DEWITT MACKENZIE,

Allies and Germans are all set
for action on the western 'front.'
so well set. in fact, that either
would be courting disaster by en-
ploying undue haste in initiating a
major offensive Hence the COM
parative inactivity 50 far.
There's no reason for rush at this
juncture. The crushing of Poland
removes the necessity of an. imme-
diate allied attack to relieve pres
sure on the Poles. The Nazis still
haven't broken away from Hitler's
policy of not fighting the allies un-
less forced, on the grounds that
Germany has no quarrel with France
and England.
Curiously enough, despite the fact
that the offer of peace-on-my-terms
which Hitler held out from Danzig
was tossed back at him by the al
lies, Berlin still persists with peace
propaganda. Yesterday there was
another striking gesture of friend
ship toward France in military fu-
neral to French 1t. Louis Deschanel,
who was killed in action. And the
Berlin Allgemeine Zeitung said:
Germany has reached her war
objective. The west does not inter-
est us. OF course, should some one
attack us there we would defend
ourselves as effectively as possible. :"
why must this war 60 on?" said
the Boersen Zeitung.
Chamberlain's Talk Reaches Far.
British Premier Chamberlain
nailed the imperial standard to the
mast yesterday when he laid down
Englands war aims before his House
OF Commons. He reiterated the de-
termination to pay the allied debt
OF honor to Poland, but the thing
cut lot deeper than that.
Our general purpose in this strug-
gle is well known" he said. 1T is
to redeem Europe from the perpet-
ual and recurring fear of German
aggression and enable the peoples
OF Europe to preserve their inde-
pendence and their liberties"
1t becomes increasingly clear that
the British Empire has been put on
the spot. Not only is Britain Herr
Hitler's chief target, but it is being
potted at by other countries as well.
France, OF course, is sharing Eng
lands trials, but the prize scalp
sought is John Bulls.
Even before yesterdays statement
Mr.. Chamberlain had broadened the
Polish issue by announcing that
England was out to destroy Hit
lerism.">
Hitler Accepts Challenge.
The Nazi chieftain accepted that
gage in his speech at Danzig Tues
day. Either of these gentlemen,
however, might have clarified the
position greatly by amplifying some
thing like this:
So far as concerns Europe, the
main engagement is between Ger
many and Britain. Or, to be more
accurate. it Is between Britain and
Hitler, the individual, together with
the Hitlerian doctrine which we
know as Nazi-ism.
1t is to determine whether Hitler
shall continue to extend his in
f1uence until Nazi Germany is the
dominant power, or whether Eng
land shall retain the politico-eco
nomic superiority which has given
that nation, among other things,
the title of policeman of Europe" :"
One naturally doesn't mean to
dissociate France from all this.
The French Empire and European
influence also has been challenged,
and she stands with England.
While Picture Altered.
England's troubles aren't confined
to Hitler. Russia's newborn BROTH
erhood with Germany, and the CO.
operation between these two great
powers, have in effect been a heavy
blow to Britain, and to France as
well. The supplies which Germany
expects to get from Russia likely
would alter the whole complexion
of the conflict.
Also, this Nazi- Communist cloud
burst has driven all the smaller ma
tions of Eastern Europe and the
Balkans scurring to cover. They are
afraid Of Germany, or of Russia, or
OF both. England's efforts to put
her finger on her small friends is
like trying to catch flea.
Again-until the Polish crisis got
hot, Mussolini was challenging
Britain's domination of the Mediter-
ranean and the Suez Canal-lifeline
of the british Enopiro-opd IJ;+1er