Evening star., 1939-09-22

UclOIc CIlC dIlllcAdIlOIl VI SZCCllO-0
lish people believed that Germany
swered frankly that the English
people believed Hitler would be
tempted to play the Napoleonic role
and annex other countries or domi-
nate them by force. Himmler
laughed at this and spoke the fol-
lowing words, which should be re-
membered In history: I'VE have
read some history" he told me. 1--WE
know what happened to Mr.. Napo-
leon. We know that If we went the
same way it would be for Germany
the road to ruin"
With Surprising Quickness.
They have gone that way and the
prophecy by Himmler, of all men In
the world, is being fulfilled by the
Czechs' revolt. 1t has happened
more quickly than any one expected
1t is possible and, in my opinion
likely, that the Czechs were excited
by the advance OF Russia in Poland
and that this event was the spark
that touched them off. Those Sc
cret explosives, not only are in Czech
cellars, but in Czech hearts.
The agony of Poland and the
Russian betrayal of brother Slavs
was to them a further cause OF rage
and wild passion against German
rule. which burst like storm IN
Prague and other Czech cities ano
made them-men and women alike
reckless of death, imprisonment
and torture. Rather than work fol
German slave drivers, rather than
make weapons or supplies for the
German Army, they have smashed
their own machines, bombed thell
own factories and killed German
Storm Troopers with any kind OF
weapon.
Most perilous for Germany has
been the revolt of the Slovak Army
on the borders of Poland. These
peoples of Slav race feel outraged
bv German brutality to the Poles
and their hearts are fired by Polish
heroism and sacrifice.
Strikes Fear to Nazis.
Their suppression by overwhelm'
ing German forces will be bloody In
the extreme. Already. according tc
reports, firing squads have executed
great numbers. Those Czech cities
and villages will be made into sham.
bles under German orders. But al
this will strike terror into the minds
of German leaders. How far will II
snread? How soon will it be before
such things happen In Germany IL
self? What hand will Russia play
in this revolt of outraged peoples!
No man dare prophesy, but is IT no"
almost certain that when Hitler
called to Russia and made his sinls'
ter bargain, he opened his owr
doors wide to red revolution.
know men in Germany who will be
feeling their own throats with
nervous fingers.
But it would be foolish wishfu
thinking to hope for any immediate
revolt in Germany itself. We ma!
have to wait many months. perhaps
a year or two, before that happens
But that 1t will happen one DAY il
written in the book Of fate. INT
first seeds of suspicion and fear re-
earding Hitler were sown in man!
German minds previously loyal te
him when he broke all his pledges
by invading and annexing Czecno'
Slovakia. I was in Berlin just be.
fore this happened, when it looked
as though Hitler were preparing fol
this adventure.
People Then Suspicious.
I talked with many German peo'
ple of all classes and found among
them deep suspicion and anxiety
I remember the words of one work.
ingman: awe cannot see ahead,
he told me. There is dark cur
tain in front of U.S. Hitler has done
great things for Germany, but nj
promised us peace. Now we believe
that he is leading us to war. I have
three sons. I do not want then
killed. We German workers will no
support another war which vii
SaCrl1ce our SOIlS.
That was mild enough in its words
but it revealed a mood OF distrus'
and disillusion with Hitler's leader
ship, which must now be increased
tenfold in many German minds
Doubtless young Nazis, stuffed with
propaganda, are ready to die fol
Hitler, but their fathers and moth.
ers. who remember the last war ant
millions of middle-aged men who
went through those years, will bt
leaders against war in Germany
today
In any case, Germany is already
on short rations and as DR.. SchachI
has said, a nation may end war or
ration cards, but it cannot begin i
on ration cards. Germany's mer'
chant ships are now all sunk, cap
turned or interned. Neutrals will
only supply her with goods-and no.
many of them-in return for cash
But Germany has no reserves o.
gold. Her war machine is gooe
now, but what will happen to il
when there is no more oil, no more
nickel, no more essential metals fol
hard steel, which Germany can only
get from foreign sources now cut
off, even in Spain? The wastage
and destruction of tanks, guns, air.
planes and all engines of war will
be enormous, as we know from oul
own experience in the last war. Ir
nine months time at the latest, the
German war machine will disin-