Evening star., 1939-02-04
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN,
Star Staf1 Correspondent.

oldT Stdu SOTTeSpOuQent.
BUDAPEST, Hungary.-The Ber-
lin Rome axis has adopted the pol
icy of the Roman Empire at the
height of its power. None but it's
own nationals are worthy to carry
swords. The others, the subject
races, are to be frontiersmen and
prevent an invasion until the axis
legions can come to take the ;situa.
ton in hand. Otherwise, the role
of these nations must be restricted
to working for the dictators to pro-
duce raw materials, foodstuff and
the things which are needed in
Germany and in Italy.
1t Is for this reason that the Ger
man arms factories refuse to sup
ply the vasSel states with modern
war equipment and whatever is be-
ing sent to them is of such poor
quality that it would not stand the
brunt of real war.
1t is wise policy on the part of
the Fuehrer. He knows the axis
cannot rely on the loyalty of the
Hungarians and the Yugoslavs On
the contrary, the armies CT these
two countries might turn against
their liege as soon as things look
less bright for the axis. And since
both dictators are determined to use
force to fulfill their aims, the re-
arming of the vassel states might
prove in the end contrary to their
interests.
On Par or Above Italy's Soldiers.
The Yugoslav Army used to be
one of the best in Europe. The
Serbian soldier is a born fighter.
The Croat and the Slovene is not as
good. but at least is equal 20 the
Italian.
AS long as Yugoslavia was a pillar
of the Little Entente, France fur
nished arms. ammunition, aviation
and chemicals, either on cash or
credit. For some reason the French
refused stubbornly to establish
arms factories in the country, al
though the Yugoslavs have almost
every kind of raw material ,leces-
sary for manufacture of war i'm
plements. They needed only the
machinery and engineers.
When France permitted Germany
to remilitarize the Rhine, the
Yugoslavs rushed to Berlin and en-
tered an economic agreement with
the Reich. They knew they could
no longer count on France and they
are too realistic to imagine that
alone or even with the assistance of
the Little Entente they could resist
the Germans. When the Berlin
Rome axis was formed, they patched
up their differences with Italy and
became an appendix of the axis.
For while. the Germans sent them
arms which they used to purchase
from France and the Yugoslav
were delighted, for instead of pay
ing in currency they could pay in
hogs. But they soon discovered
that the armor of the tanks was too
thin; that the guns were wearing
out quickly, and the airplanes had
no endurance at all. Berlin apolo-
gized; Germany had dificulties
with war material itself, bat the
situation would soon be remedied.
1t was-in Germany. The Belgrade
government obtained the same
grade of war materials.
Deliveries Slow Up.
Later, it became difficult even to
obtain this faulty material. Deliver
les were slow, expansion of the Ger
man Army required an increased
effort of her arsenals and there was
little available for the appendix
South America had to be supplied
first because it was politically i'm
portant to do so. Yugoslavia got
many promises and few arms. To-
day her army remains as good as
ever, as far as the dash and per-
sonal courage of the men is con.
cerned. But they are addressed
and especially ill-equipped. Wher
the Belgrade government complains
too loudly, Berlin answers politely
that German production facilities
have been increased now by the CO.
operation of the Czecho- -Slovak
Skoda works and are setting aside
fair amount of war material fol
Germany's allies. If the situation
should justify entrance Of Yugo-
slav Armies in an international con.
flict, the war material could be
rushed to the frontier In no time
There are plenty Of railway connec-
tions between the two countries
Meanwhile the Yugoslavs had bet.
ter improve the roads leading K