Evening star., 1939-09-03
Protection Of Poland Appears
Allies Most Vexing Problem
French and English Strength on Sea Again Seems
toBe Balance in Case of General
European War
By Joseph II. Baird.

been built with deep-sunken machine
gun and artillery emplacements, so de-
signed that they can rain deadly hail
OF cross-fire into advancing troops.
To break through such line, mill
tary experts say, is virtually impossible
even for an army much larger than
the defending force.
Even if the assault were eventually
successful, it would involve the loss of
hundreds of thousands of troops A
frontal assault against Germany from
the west would seem practical only
when, and if. the Reich's defenses al
ready had been weakened by some
months of warfare.
IT, as pointed out earlier, Italy should
enter the war on the side of Germany
as seems unlikely now-the whole mil
itary problem of the allies would be-
come simplified, even though they were
fighting a larger total force Just as
Germany is safe from attack behind
its West Wall" France is even safer
behind the Maginot Line, an even more
elaborate and stronger system of under
ground fortifications
Thus, by manning these defenses,
France could forget its northern front
and throw the greater part of its army
against Italy on the west The Italians,
without doubt, would put up a strong
resistance against Franco-British at
tack, Rome having some 100000
trained troops 1t most likely would
require the French army many months
to blast its way through Italy and up
into Southern Germany-and, of course,
there is the possibility that they might
never force their way through. Most
military observers. however, rate the
French and British armies as better
trained than the Italian, more highly
motorized and generally more formid-
able.
Heavily Fortified Passes.
The route that the Franco-British
forces would take, if successful, would
be through the heavily fortified Alpine
passes on the Franco-Italian border.
along the Pc River and then north to
Germany through the Brenner pass.
II this push through Italy were sue
cessful, the war on land probably
would enter its final phase on German
soil, the Reich forces fighting the COM
bined Franco British armies in what
was Austria and the Poles. plus what
ever reinforcements they were able to
obtain, on the eastern front.
These possible reinforcements are
what military observers regard as the
most speculative phase of the entire
war. AS pointed out, it would be vir-
tually impossible for Polands allies to
send in troops through the Baltic ports.
If Turkey and Rumania keep their
'peace-front' pledges and go to Po-
lands aid, they could send stable ex-
peditlonary forces more quickly than
any other countries and could. too,
provide corridor for British Empire
troops which could be sent from Irao,
India and Australia up through the
Dardenelles and the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, of course the war would
be proceeding on sea and air-spheres
OF conflict as likely to contribute to the
final decision as the struggle on land.
Germany and Italy would enter the
war with considerable air superiority
over their enemies. They are estimated
to have total of 1880 serviceable
military planes 10000 for Germany
and $500 for italy, compared with 5000
for the Allies 5000 for Great Britain.
1000 for France and 1000 for PolandD
Not only the initial air force but
productive capacity is important in the
eventual outcome of aerial war, and
the Fascist bloc" has a much higher
rate of manufacture.
1000 Planes Per Month.
Roughly, it is estimated that the
Fascist bloc" can put more than 1000
new planes per month into the air, as
compared with about 750 for the enemy.
British productive capacity has been
ascending in sharp curve in recent
months, however, and likely would con-
tlnue to increase in comparison with
the German rate during the war pc
rlod. If the allies control the seas and
the American Neutrality Act is repealed
AS it seems likely to be-they could
buy planes here.
Despite the terror of air bombing,
military experts believe that, as in the
World War, navies would have greater
effect on the final outcome Of the con-
flct. Almost from the start, it is ex-
pected, the Franco-British fleet would
bottle up the Mediterranean and the
North Sea, cutting off Italian and
German sources of supply abroad.
The allied naval forces, too, would
undoubtedly cooperate with their ar
mics If the war were carried into Italy.
That country has an extremely vulner-
able coast line and some of its most
important cities-Rome, Naples and Sa-
lerno. for instance-could be bombarded
by 16-inch naval guns on ships living
well on the coast. Most modern CAP
ital ships have an effective range of be-
tween Is and 80 miles.
To put it plainly. the obvious Franco
British strategy would necessarily be
to give Italy knockout" blow as
soon as possible, hoping merely to hold
Germany in check while that was ac-
complished. In view of II Duce's OBJ
! vious role of sacrifice and the further
fact that he has no direct interest in
the conquest of Poland, there are
strong doubts held here that Italy will
enter the war, despite the Rome Berlin
alliance.
AS In 1914-19l8, the British and
French navies would be expected, n
to play vital role in beating Germ
l.