Evening star., 1939-11-02
BY DEWITT MACKENZIE,

Associated Press Stan Writer.
The pseudo war between the
Anglo-F French allies and Germany
has now boiled down to point
where one can begin to get an idea
of what 1t will look like when it
jells-if it does jell.
What with Soviet Premier Molo-
tof1,s categorically reiteration of Rus
sian neutrality" and Mussolini's
purge of pro-Nazi officials to insure
. acknowledgement position for Italy,
the conflict finally has been re-
stricted-for the present, at least
to the chief contestants.
That Is to say, we have the eco
nomic and military resources OF
Germany stacked up against the
combined strength of England and
France. Outside supplies may be
open to all belligerents-if they have
any way to pay for them.
It is a matter of statistics that
the joint resources of the allies in
men, materials and money greatly
exceed those of the Reich. The
normal allied superiority has been
increased by Germany's bad eco
nomic position. That leaves 1t to
the Nazis to Offset this advantage
either by better military machinery
and leadership or by acquisition OF
outside help, or both.
Italians Steer Clear.
Since the start of the war there
has been little doubt that Musso-
lini's whole wish has been to steer
clear of German entanglements.
The golden cord that has bound
Berlin and Rome appears very bad
ly frayed.
Observers generally also have be-
lieved that Russia intended to re-
main of the battlefield, playing the
allies and Germany against each
other to the ultimate advantage OF
Russia and Communism. However,
there has been an element of doubt,
and this has made it impossible to
gauge the situation accurately.
Were Russia to throw all its re-
sources, including military, into the
conflict on the side of Nazidom 1t
would completely change the COM
plexion of the war. Herr Hitler'S
stature would increase immensely.
That seems to be written of. how
ever. by Molotof1's statement OF neu-
trality. There is no reason to doubt
that it is the present intention OF
the Russians to stay out of the fight.
There still remains the highly I'M
portant matter of supplies which
Russia has promised to provide Ger
nnany. These in themselves seem
bound to protract the war. and they
might even have a vital bearing on
its outcome. That depends on how
extensive they are.
Big "If' Even to Hitler.
We still have to learn what sup
plies Russia has available, what part
of her store she is prepared to give
Hitler. and whether she has trans
portation facilities to move-in some
cases clear across Siberia from the
Far East-those supplies which she
is willing to turn over to Germany
The whole thing is one big If,
and it must be such even to Herr
Hitler. 1t is an If" too, which
the Nazi Fuehrer must be ponder
ing deeply, since Germany would
starve without outside supplies, and
the allied blockade is calculated to
cut the Reich off from virtually al
sources excepting Russia and the
Balkans.
One of Germany's gravest prob
lens rests in finance. Lack OF
money makes her almost wholly de-
pendent on barter trade--the swap
ping of goods-for her outside sup
plies. Already some of the Balkan
states have been rejecting barter
deals in favor of allied gold.
1t is, of course, the desperate
gamble of waging war under such
conditions that has made the