Evening star., 1939-10-07
Hitler
Continued From First Page.)

NCONtlHucQ fTOn F1TSL fd&cJ
win one by negotiation on his terms,
from Britain and France?
To his attack the allies will have
to conform their defense, as they
had largely to do against German
attack through more than three
years Of the World War.
If he could cripple the British
blockade, that might save his people
from having further to tighten their
belts on war rations and he would
have a real basis for compromise.
Or his success might lead him to
continue the war in the hope that
he might actually break Britain S
command of the sea.
Therefore, all indications have
been that the first great blow would
be rain of bombs on British ships
and naval bases. BY this time,
both the British and German naval
commands have a good deal of in
formation about the actual effec-
tiveness of bombers.
Germans Deny Damage.
The Germans say that the Brit
ish air raids on the naval base of
Wilhelmshaven and the island
fortress of Helgoland did no dam
age. Reports of heavy naval gun
fire OF the coast of Norway re-
ferred, as we learned later, to a
German bombing attack on British
naval ships and their answering
gunflre.
1t was evidently from this ac-
ton that a German flyer brought
home word he had destroyed the
British aircraft carrier Royal Ark.
But the German air and naval
commands we're warranted in read
ing the most significant item of the
weeks news from England with
more interest than the Fuehrer's
speech. This was the statement of
the American Naval Attache who
went on board the Royal Ark and
found she was afloat and undam-
aged. If she had been mauled he
would have been silent, as a guest
who kept the professional secrets
OF his host. Professional honor
makes his word final.
Naval and military experts are
as given to disagreeing as other ex.
perts are, but the growing opinion
In naval circles before the war, tha,
the combat value of airpowel
against ships well armed with anti.
aircraft guns had been overesti.
mated, seems further justified. The
burden of proof to the contrary
rests with Hitler's bombers, since
theirs Is to be the initiative.
Soldier Safer at Front.
IT they can be as terrifcally de.
structive as Marshal Goering has
pictured them, then the soldier viii
be safer under a concrete roof o1
the Maginot Line or even in a fox.
hole in the open, provided the
stalemate on the western front con.
tlnues, than working in a munition.
plant or in bed at home.
So far, the old hand, the German
submarine has more scores to its
credit, including the British aircraf,
carrier Courageous, than German
aircraft. The past week has beer
notable for the sinking of neutra
ships, possibly to throw q scare into
the Scandinavian countries to re.
strain them from too much cooper.
alton with the allies, in spite of Hit.
ler's profession of good will towarc
them. If fewer British ships have
been victims, the reason may moi
only be the establishment of the con.
voy system, but the withdrawal o1
the German submarines to port anc
preparation for another rush.
A puzzling report was the one from
London describing how British
submarine, which was resting on the
sea bottom, though bombed with q
depth charge there, managed to rise
to the surface and be rescued. The
most may have been made of the
tales Of the heroic survivors. Nc
depth charge may have exploded
near enough to dent the plates, only
near enough to cause a heavy con-
cussion. The number of submarines
destroyed by depth charges was not
more important in reducing the SUBJ
marine menace in the World War
than the fear of the charges which
made the submarines submerge at
the sight Of a destroyer.
Fifth Week Is Allies.
Altogether, the fifth week of the
war has been the allies week, dis.
counting the inevitable fall of War
saw and accepting their policy oi
watchful waiting. They could not
help the Poles, but the Polish sac
riflce gave them time.
What Of the next week? And the
weeks to come? Five weeks is 9
short time in long war for which
the allies are evidently preparing
The World War lasted more than
220 weeks. There were quiet weeks
and the terrific weeks of the often
sives.
In the true Hitler manner, when
he is ready and not until he is
ready, Hitler may strike in the west
In a land offensive and under the
sea and in the air in speedy repe-
tition Of blows. AS for placing the
guilt Of first bombing open cities
that is easy for one so quick on the
gun and propaganda trigger as Hit
Ter. He has only to bomb first and
then announce over the German
radio that 1t was in reprisal.
RELEASED by the North American
NAvspa r~~ Alliance YunN