Evening star., 1939-10-20
The War in Europe-Doy by Day
Effect on Italy Of AI|edTurkish Pact Closely Watched;
kozis Appear to Be Searching Peace Still
By DEWITT MACKENZIE,

eAo " eASnS NASeoAy oNSA N<SAA
being calculated to assure them
domination in the vital Eastern
Mediterranean area.
Berlin naturally declines to sub
scribe to this view, but the German
political world is called stunned.
Neutral observers generally agree
that the pact on the face OF 1t rep
resents powerful allied gain, but
the agreement is so far reaching
that the full implications must
await developments.
The effect on Italy is being closely
watched. The Italian press has
adopted an attitude of indifference,
pending chance to study the situ-
alton.
That there can be no real indif-
ference to a matter which so deeply
affects Italian interests In the Medi-
terranean Is obvious. Foreign diplo-
mats in Rome express the belief
that Italy will take no action. but
will continue her neutrality. Should
this prove to be the case indefinitely.
it would mean that Germany had
lost the hope of any active assist
ance from her ally. The threat Of
Italian military Intervention on
Germany's side has been held out
by Nazidom recently.
Nazis Search for Peace.
Coincident with this striking
Turkish-allied move, the Nazis ap-
peared to be quietly pursuing their
search for peace in which surely
must be the most extraordinary war
of its kind in history, insofar as
relates to hoStilitieS in the western
theater.
The conference of Scandinavian
countries adjourned without initia-
ting any peace move. There were
two other highly interesting develop
ments, however.
One had to do with Herr Hitler's
decree annexing conquered Polish
provinces. He left dangling in the
air for final disposal close to $4,000
square miles of what was the heart
of Poland. Germany is occupying
this zone right up to the Russian
frontier.
Many observers are wondering if
.. Herr Hitler intends to offer this for
new Polish state in an effort to
! appease the allies and thus end the
war
Nazis Refuse to Trespass.
At the same time the German
high command, in announcing with
draWal of the French from German
soil in the west, emphasized that the
Nazi troops which reoccupied this
area stopped at the French from
tier. That is, they didn't venture
to trespass on French ground.
This was new way of telling
France that the Reich has no quar-
rel with her. One heard the be-
lief expressed in Berlin that reserve
in handling the western campaign
would mean more than a fresh
peace offer.
The purpose, of course, is to in
spire either the Anglo-French allies
or neutrals to make another over
ture for cessation Of hostilities
Nazi officials have indicated that
Herr Hitler has nothing further to
say on the subject.
This attitude of friendlness-or
perhaps one should say lack of
hostility-toward the French has
been maintained by the Nazis ever
since the outbreak of hostilities
Observers generally have interpreted
this as calculated not only to foster
peace, but to cause split between
the French and English.
Threat.
The extreme politenesS, and pull
ing of punches, which have marked
at times, reminds me of an incident
I encountered some years ago up
near the Khyber Pass on the north
west frontier of India. Two Of the
savage tribes in that forbidding
region were at war and they had
engaged in a pitched battle.
One of the tribes had managed
somehow to get hold of an ancient,
muzzle- loading cannon which fired
big, round shot. The old gun wasn't
particularly dangerous, but 1t was
rather a terrifying innovation to
primitive men who were used only
to their antiquated rifles and swords
The side which didn't have cam
non ceased firing and sent dele
CATION across to the enemy under a
flag of truce.
Look here" said the messengers,
I'VE haven't any cannon, and 1t
isn't fair for you to use one. If
you don't stop it we will call the
battle of and not fight you any
more
Fighting being the breath of life
to these wild men the demand was
agreed to-and the scrap went on.
Nazis Minimize War.
The German high command, in
the same statement which told
of the reoccupation of the ground
from which the French had with
drawn, minimized the war in the
western theater thus far. 1t made
the staggering assertion that the
Germans had lost -nly 1876 men on
this front up to october IT, with
356 wounded and ia missing.
Today-October 20-is the ami
versary of the beginning proper Of
the great battle of the User, fought
in Belgium near the start of the
World War in 1914. This engage
ment halted the last German at
tempt in that fall to reach the chan
mel ports. During the some 10 days
in which the main fighting lasted
the Belgians and French had 10000
casualties, and 1t is said that the
German losses probably were
greater.
In the brief weeks prior to that
there had been many bloody major
engagements in both the eastern
and western theaters. One doesn' t
suggest for a moment that this is
1914, or that conditions now per-
nit of such activity.
Military experts seem agreed,
however. that much more could
!