Evening star., 1939-11-09

German air minister discounts the
value of our aid and states that the
German air industry can outbuild
the allies and America combined; !;
he speaks of the certainty of Ger
man victory, emphasizes the i'm
portance of time.
Time is indeed importan. In mod
ern war, whose instruments possess
so much greater speed, range and
destructive power than formerly.
Time has been aptly called by Gen.
Rowan Robinson the fourth dimen-
sion Of strategy. To Germany time
calculations in her national STRAIT
egy are chiefly concerned with the
flow of Russian supplies to Germany
and the flow of American supplies
to the allies Her actions for the
immediate future will undoubtedly
be based on the calculations of her
military leaders as to the respective
value of these two sources of sup
ply. If her leaders believe that
Russian supplies can be made avail
able IN adequate quantities, and
that American supplies for the allies
cannot, Germany may not risk an
offensive at this time save perhaps
by air and sea against Britain's s
maritime communications. The re-
verse Of this calculation would seem
to impose upon Germany the need
for attempting a victorious con-
clusion of the struggle while yet
there is time.
Backing Different Belligerents.
Thus the two great self contained
nations of the world, the United
States and the Soviet Union, both
preserving neutrality, are decisive
factors in the conduct of the war,
and each is backing different bel
ligerent.
Whether Stain is advising Hitler
as to how he thinks Germany should
conduct the war, one does not know.
Indeed, one does not know what sort
of wal Stain wants or what possible
outcome he considers most beneficial
to his interests, though one may sus-
pect that he would prefer, above all
others, an outcome which left west
ern, capitalistic Europe exhausted
and bleeding at his feet. But one
may doubt whether he will venture
to offer strategical advice to the
German government or If he does
whether he would feel any sense of
responsibility for the result if his
advice were accepted and disaster
followed.
With the United States the case is
different. The interests of this coun-
try are certainly involved in the out
come OF this war; we should not like
to see the destruction of the Euro
pean democracies; we should not like
to see Naziism or Communism or q
combination of these two not essen
TALLY dlssimilar ideologies trium-
phant in Europe. But our first con-
Germ at the moment is to keep from
becoming involved in hostilities our
selves These seem to be, if one may
Judge from usually reliable indices
OF public opinion, the almost unani-
nous views of the American people
Ihese trends in public opinion were
largely instrumental in achieving the
repeal OF the arms embargo.
Offering Advice Dangerous.
But one may take leave to
doubt whether the majority OF
Americans feel that we have there
by acquired the right to tell Great
Britain and France how they shall
conduct the war in which they find
themselves engaged. One may in
deed take leave to doubt whether
many Americans would think il
polite or even safe to offer such
advice. I think that rarely has q
more dangerous suggestion beer
made than that put forward by Mr.
Walter Lippmann in his column OF
November 7. After praising the
present defensive strategy of the
allies he says 1T must be our policy
to make them adhere to it." HI
continues, 1T will be essential thai
the United States have very cleal
view that the practical problem.
are to be decided on the principle
that the allies are to fight {
strategetically defensive war"
Mr.. Lippmann has much to say
in his column in praise of a de.
fensive strategy for the allie
which he considers the certain roae
to victory. One may or may MOI
agree with this view. Personally,
have grave doubts about the mat
ter. The best professional military