Evening star., 1939-11-24
Sees Germany Hurt by
Execution of Czechs
Deaths Held Certain to Settle
World Opinion Against
Nuzi Leaders

Az eiie cultor oI Inc Star.
The flag at the Czecho- -Slovakian Le-
cation is lowered to half-staff In con-
nection with the deaths of IL youthful
students executed by the Nazis at Prague,
and from the radio accounts direct from
Berlin there can be little doubt about the
authenticity of the report of the murder
Of these patriotic youths-"sy symbols of a
people striving to maintain their national
Identity and democratic tradition"
Again and again we have been warned
to beware of propagandists, lest we be
swayed thereby and led into devastating
war "to end Hitlerism" This time we
know it's not propaganda, but case of
clear-cut facts which even got by the
strict German censorship of radio broad
cast at home and abroad This news was
In no wise favorable to the Nazi leaders
or their accomplishments, since 1t makes
1t apparent that Germany Is having
internal trouble, and that obviously she
hoped through the medium of this atroci-
Gus crime to paralyze any self-expres-
sion on the part of the helpless Czechs
IN their conquered land. In this aim they
may be successful.
On the other hand the effect of this
massacre is bound to be far-reaching
and not altogether helpful to Germany.
1t, perhaps more than any one terrifying
act on the part of Germany since the
outbreak of the war, will undoubtedly
make every thinking Britisher and
Frenchman realize just what they would
be up against if Germany were to be vic
torious; and If heretofore they have had
faint heart for their undertaking, they'll
now enter into the conflict with all they
have, driven by the conviction that they
must win this war to end Hitlerism or be
subjected to a far worse fate than that
meted out to the Czechs and Poles. So,
perhaps the IL youths have not died in
vain.
The consequences of this atrocity may
prove farther reaching. Those in Amer
lca-even those who know and have said
repeatedly that it would be folly for the
United States to think of becoming in
volved in another European war started
over petty power politics-will stop and
think 1t over in different vein when
they read Of the outrage, and know that
it is not part of an astute propaganda
program. And it is predicted (rather
than advocated) that it probably won't
take many more such outrages to civiliza-
ton to make many Americans want to
do something to rid the world of such as
Hitler. The spirit of the crusaders has
Notip,, Tt ,irl,
There might be more than a mere hand
full who would want to don armor and 20
out to get the man who threatens the
safety of every nation. There were those
in America who saw fit to volunteer to
help the Loyalists in Spain; there are
Americans flying planes for the Chinese
Gen. Chang Kai-shek; and no doubt
if it were not for our recently enacted
neutrality law, there would be a rather
surprising number of Americans who
would wish to organize corps to really
go after Hitler.
The thinking population will reason:
Hitler is all they say of him. A first
rate demon" And before long. not only
Hitler, but all the German people who
either blindly, or fearfully, follow him,
will be denounced by the peace crusaders
in the United States. Especially will they
wonder how they could ever have been
so blind to the danger from Germany
if Great Britain and France should
suffer a serious setback. Propaganda
won't do it this time, but a few cold
facts, such as the murder of youthful
Czech students, will in time turn the tide.
When and if that situation develops, the
Congress will be faced with the really
serious problem of deciding whether it
would be better to risk the end of west
ern civilization by entering the European
conflict while there is still a semblance
of military strength in France and Great
Britain, or enforce the Monroe Doctrine
by sending an army to Canada, Mexico
and Central and South America, and
building Navy and Air Fleet that can
protect not only the West, but the East
Indies ODD.
Alexandria, Va.
November 10.