Evening star., 1939-08-20
BY ELMER w. PETERSON,

DS LLNILN W. L Il LhSoN,
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent
KAUNAS, Lithuania-'I suppose,
says the clear-eyed young Lithuan-
ian. I'VE could hold them for a
week or 10 days.
His opinion is not expert. 1t is
only what he himself thinks, in a
discussion of what this little nation
of 2,500,000 persons could do to de-
fend itself if invaded by a larger
power.
The Lithuanians do not eliminate
Russia or even Poland when they
think of aggression, but Germany
is first on the list.
You see," say the young Lith-
uanian, and his eyes narrow down
as he says it, here in Lithuania
we have to be realists." He smiles
You don't appreciate your advan-
tage in being a citizen of a large
country
You know what he is thinking
He sees the United States as large
and powerful nation, with the bless
ing of geographical isolation, with
thousands of miles of water to sep
arate it from Europe and the Orient.
He compares it, in his mind, with
Lithuania, lodged between Germany
and Russia, and which already has
been forced to yield to the demands
of larger countries.
Will Resist Attack
But Lithuania will resist If she
is attacked today?" 1 ask.
"Of course" His surprise over the
question is genuine. Why not?'
1t makes you think of the slim
measure of security enjoyed by some
of the small countries of Europe
today. Countries which must be
ready to defend their Neutrality as
best they can-or take sides in a
struggle
1t makes you think of an attack
by large country-with hundreds,
thousands of airplanes. with big
guns, with tanks and fast moving
artillery and with the whole, rip
ping, smashing destruction possible
to large army.
And you think of a small country
defending, with high courage and
firm resolve, with modern equipment
of its own, but pitted against re-
serve strength, in men and money
and munitions, which it cannot
match
These are the realities of Europe,
and square in the middle of such
realities you have Lithuania, where
almost half the national revenue
/ goes on army and ornaments, where
/ peasants work all day and then
practice with their rifles at night.
where the hope is for peace but
where life is very much a question
mark.
Holds Neutrality Precious.
Look at a map. Where would
Germany and Russia meet if they
were to go to war against each
other? There's good chance that
one front would be in Lithuania
Big powers try to put the fighting
onto other soil than their own.
What would happen if Germany
and Poland clash? There's a chance
it's agreed, that either country
might try wide flanking movements
which might cut into Lithuania.
Against this situation Lithuania
holds precious her neutrality and a
hope that this neutrality will be
respected. And she is ready and
prepared to defend that neutrality
against any country that tries to
violate it.
Lithuania has 6, small but highly
trained army. She could put ZOO ,00O
good soldiers in the field, backed by
good equipment and with a reputa-
ton as fighters.
AS new nation after the World
War, after a long history of foreign
control and domination, Lithuania
had faith in the League of Nations
1t watched the League fade. Then
came the shock of watching Czecho-
Slovakia 60 under. And then the
ultimatum from Poland to open the
frontier between Lithuania and
Poland, and then the loss to Ger
many. through a demand that coulc
not be ignored, of Memel.
Less Faith in Russia.
Lithuania has less faith thar