Evening star., 1939-10-08

western powers and Germany has not
yet begun in earnest-on land, on sea,
or In the air. There have been minor
conflicts in the air, but the thousands
Of bombers and fighters which each of
the parties has at its command have
not yet clashed or displayed to any
appreciable degree their terrible de-
structive power. The fight on land is
mainly . long-distance artillery duel
designed to clear the ground in front
OF the real scene Of the struggle The
opposing forces have not yet come to
grips.
There has been some submarine ac-
tivity, with diminishing results for the
assa1lants and increasing successes for
the defenders, but no one believes the
German attack on allied shipping has
yet been fully developed. The airplane
has not so far been called to the aid
OF the submarine. Activities and coun-
teractivities at sea have only SO far
revealed the probability that the strug-.
gle Is to be conducted as a war of
strangulation. We are effectively block
aiding Germany on the most important
sea frontiers. Germany is retaliating
by attacking all neutral vessels that car
ry food or materials to Britain,
The rival powers make the most of
every incident in this preliminary fenc-
ing. The grim reality has not started,
What are combatants waiting for?
Sluggishness in Attacks.
The Germans have concentrated their
energies on the subjugation OF Poland
by an overwhelming display OF force.
Having completed their conquest, their
forces are being swung without loss of
time to the French frontier. But the
reason for this unwonted sluggishness
IN the attack by Germany and in the
allied reply is not entirely due to exi-
gencies of the Polish campaign. These
ought to have accelerated British and
French activity in order to relieve the
pressure which was crushing their Pol
lish allies.
Hitler is in no hurry to launch an all
around offensive. In his Reichstag
speech he has made a bid for peace.
What is it worth? Should it forthwith
be spurned without counter proposals
which will appeal to the conscience of the
civilized world?
1t is always difficult to discuss peace
terms during the progress of a war.
Those who suggest methods of achieving
peaceable solution are always liable
to the accusation of faltering and faint
heartedness. Those who hold that all
wars must sooner or later end in peace
and that no reasonable opportunity for
reaching that end should be neglected
are apt to be treated as shivering pacif-
lists.
Naturally everyone shrinks from in
curing such suspicion at time when
courage is the supreme virtue, but cour-
age which rushes on to its doom with
its tail up and its head down is not of
the highest quality. 1t is pure bullhead-
edness and may end in a crash against
concrete walls.
Warns Against Hasty Answer.
After the Fuehrer's speech, I still
repeat my appeal to the British govern
ment that it should not rush into a
defiant answer which will ALLEVIATE opin-
Ion at home and abroad that is sincerely
anxious to avoid the immeasurable
calamity OF a World War, which NAV
last for years and irrevocably DESTROY the
fabric OF our present civilization. A
furious, precipitate answer will ALLEVIATE
opinion which it is essential we should
conciliate and win to our end in any
struggle that may ensue, whether II he
diplomatic or military.
When Hitler talks peace it is described
as peace offensive; when a British
speaker talks peace it is surrender"
what nonsense! Peace talk is one of
H1tler's weapons on the war front and
on the important neutral front. Hitler
Is not afraid of cheap taunts of coward
ice being hurled at his head by ranting
patriots because he pleads for peace.
NOR is Goering. They know that their
own people have to be satisfied, so thew
seek to create the impression that a
sohd peace is the real aim of their policy
and that the real peace-breakers ara
English politicians whose sole desire is
to encircle and destroy Germany.
Nations will not long endure the
horror and sacrifice of war at the bid
ulng OF War-mongers in any country
Hitler knows that well, and he uses
the whole Of his oratorical art to rallv
peace sentiment on the side of war, The
strength OF Mr.. Chamberlain's position
~nen ne led us into war lay in the
universal conviction that he honestly
shudders at the thought of war. The
people IN all countries are praying for
peace. Every time peace offer is thrust
aside by belligerent, it strengthens the
resolve OF the peoples whose leader makes
the of1er OF peace to wage war to the
bitter end. But rejection of peace tends
gradually to undermine the morale of the
nation whose leaders are responsible
Tor refusing to enter into an interna-
tional conference with a view to bring
ing hostilities to an end.
Fervor Later Cools.
AS casualties pile up into CHASTITY pyra-
mids OF carnage, and as not only the
horrors, but the strain and irksome-
ness OF war conditions fray the nerves
OF people, the refusal of their
government to enter into discussion on
peace cools the nations zeal and weakens
the nations will. A peace offensive by
the enemy is therefore q dangerous
weapon, which must be countered not