Evening star., 1939-03-16
European! Leaders
Fear Fuehrer MAY
Strike Again Soon
How Quickly Will Hitler
Move for Donzie and
MemeIe They Ask
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
BERLIN, March 16.-The chance
that Hitler now might strike swiftly
to settle other unfinished Nazi busi-
ness IN Europe was sighted today by
foreign diplomatic circles.
Amid the Reichsfuehrer's triumph
In breaking up what was left Of
the Czecho-Slovak republic after
Munich, these quarters discussed
two dominant questions:
l. How soon would Hitler move
to return Danzig and Memelland
to the lap Of mother Germany?"
2. How quickly would Hitler fol-
low up his regenerated eastern push
toward the dream of rich treasures
In the Ukraine?
Despite the fact that the Fuehrer
usually had permitted a lull between
successes, there was a chance now
that he might reverse the procedure
and strike while the iron of an
empire in the making was still hot
particularly in the case of Danzig
and Memel.
Hitler had spaced out his three
latest and greatest successes over
slightly more than a year-the an
nexation of Austria, the absorption
of Czecho-Slovakia's Sudetenland
and finally establishment of a pro-
tectorate over Bohemia, Moravia
and Slovakia.
Controls Bohemia and Moravia.
Today his armies were in con-
troll in Bohemia and Moravia and
Slovakia. Hungarian forces, with
apparent German acquiescence, had
marched across Carpatho- Ukraine,
the remaining fragment of free
Czecho-Slovakia.
Men who have studied the ways of
the Czechs' new protector have al
ways noted his disregard OF con-
servative advice and how, despite
this, his lunches have worked. They
wondered today what was his hunch,
If any, on Danzig and Memel.
1t was reasonably assumed that
those two bits of pre-war Germany
were not "vital' in British and
French eyes, especially because OF
their large Germanic populations.
The Memel territory, 1,O99 square
miles, population 1880, was de-
tached from Germany by the Treaty
of Versailles, first placed under con-
troll Of conference of ambassadors
but finally handed over to Lithuania
February 16. 1923. Memel retained
a large measure of autonomy.
The Free City of Danzig, 754
square miles, population 4O7 900, was
taken from Germany at Versailles,
placed under the protection of the
League of Nations and made a unit
in the Polish customs administra-
ton. 1t and Gdynia are Poland's
sea outlets.
Polish Opposition Pr0blematical.
1t was problematical whether the
Poles strategica]ly could prevent
German absorption OF Danzig. Leg
islatures in Danzig and Memel al
ready are NaZi controlled.
Baron Colleen. Werner Won
Fritsch. chief of the army, and
other carryovers in the army CLIQUE
cautioned against German march
into Austria for the Anschluss of
March 13. 1888. but when Hitler and
his troops entered the occupation
was cinch.
Some observers were surprised
then that Hitler didn't follow
through by taking Sudetenland to
protect the 3,500000 Sudeten Ger
mans.
Hitler waited until the end of
September, however, before solidify-
ing his Sudetenland demands in
the Munich conference. Sudeten-
land was occupied in October. :
Again Hitler let Czecho- -Slovakia
stand. technically free, after the re-
public gave up Sudetenland to Ger
many and other territories to Hun
gary and Poland. Now 1t Is pointed
out Hitler had to occupy Moravia
and Bohemia after all.
Swift Follow-up Feared.
Apparently the fear of swift
follow-up In carrying out the "mis-
sion of the Reich in Central Eu-
rope" already was upon Polish Of
ficialdom.
The chief of the Polish national
unity movement, Gen. Stanislas
Skwarczynski, yesterday stressed the
need of preparedness as guarantee
OF "our interests and rights A Sec
ton of the Polish press expressed
apprehension regarding German ex-
pansion and emphasized the need of
inner consolidation.
The Nazi press on the whole took
the attitude that Bohemia and Nor
avia, historical kernels of German
dom,' were back where they belong
after a ''20-year reprieve." Before
the World War Bohemia and Nor
avia. along with other parts of
Czecho-Slovakia, were part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Hitler was acclaimed in the press
for "unrivaled genius" in consoli-
dating greater Germany. Logically
other steps must follow If consoli-
dation as the Nazis see it is to be
achieved. How soon these other
steps will come. however, was a
question which only one man, as
usual, could answer. That man Is