Evening star., 1939-04-05
War Planners Will Suffer
In Next Big Combat.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Hitler's most recent ultimatum to
France and England is something to
think about.
Citizens of every nation are victims Of
a relentless system Of propaganda the
purpose Of which is to imbue them with
the idea that the course chosen by the
leaders of their respective governments
is absolutely just and right. Correspond
ingly, 1t is pointed out to them that other
nationals who do not conform to their
standard Of right are their natural
enemies.
Germany is by no means the only ma
tion dominated by a propaganda ma
chine inspired by ambitious leaders
whose motives are questionable Whether
We be German, French, English or
American, international problems are
presented to us in s3ch light that we
are not inclined to question the integrity
Of any stand our governments may take
Hitler justiles himself by pointing out
to his people the violations of the Ver-
sailles Treaty, the terrible postwar con-
ditions in Germany. during which thou
sands Of their people actually starved to
death. He points out to his people and
to the rest of the world that when lie
assumed leadership he made earnest pro-
posals to all nations that ornaments be
reduced to minimum. The fact that
these proposals were rejected inspired
him to urge upon his compatriots the
necessity of arming to the teeth If they
ever hoped to regain their prestige as
an economic power.
To Englands expressions of horror re-
garding Germanys most recent terri
torial acquisition, Hitler contemptuously
refers to the past 300 years of English
history, finding no virtue in the grasplng
method Of expansion which justifies the
English boast, "The sun never sets on
the British Empire"
Whether the territory now occupied
by the people Of the United States Of
America was acquired Under the most
honorable circumstances is debatable.
Apparently the Indians didn't think so.
They gradually became reconciled to the
thought that it was futile to attempt to
stem the tide of the invading white man.
Overwhelming majorities are still i'm
pressive factors, even in this day of mod
ern civilization. Perhaps we console our
selves that the end has justified the
means. Most other nations feel the same
about similar problems.
Unless some miracle of fate intervenes
the people of Europe will soon be plunged
into war, the horrors of which are dif1i-
cult to imagine. Scientific military OBJ
servers contend that If the major powers
swing into action with their present
airplane bombing facilities, the whole Of
Europe would be reduced to shambles
within few months.
The prospect Of another war holds one
consolation to those who really expert
enced the hell of hrst-line trench po-
sitions in the last one. That is this;
modern warfare will not be confined
within q limited area. The wise gentle
men who remain at home devising clever
plans to perpetuate such fracas will no
longer be safely removed from the stark
realities of war. Confronted with the
realization that they too must share the
inevitable consequences of the war ma
chine they have so skillfully perfected
it is possible that even dictators, kings
and presidents will hasten to note the
wisdom OF discovering some new method
of settling international disputes less
apt to endanger their personal safety.
When selfish minorities conclude that
international economic problems cannot
be solved by war. there u q possibility
tha* tho people Of Ill nations may get .