Evening star., 1939-10-15
Hitler's Blood Bath
Threat May Prove
To Be Boomerang
Execution Of Boost
Seen Placing Him in
Worse Position
By COL. FREDERICK PALMER,
Noted Military Expert.

Noted Military Expert.
All neutral air and navy STATS
are bound to envy the captain of
the Norwegian fishing smack that
got caught off the Viking bank in
the midst of the most important
battle between planes and naval
ships so far. If he had been a pro-
fessional observer, he might have
realized still better on his oppor-
tunity for inside preliminary in
formation in anticipating the an
swer to the question about the
efficacy of air against naval power,
which the world is asking more in
tensely than ever.
DR.. Otto Dietrich, as Adolf Hit
ler's spokesman gave the impress
sion that the war would begin in
earnest" in the west, with 300 bomb
ers in wave after wave repeating
their exploit in Poland by annihilat-
Ing the British Navy-whether in
single raid or installments, he did
not say.
Or will Hitler turn on the faucet
OF "the most gruesome blood bath
IN history by land offensive or
combined offensive by sea and land?
Later, Berlin foreign Office spokes-
man suggested that Hitler might
allow the allies and Germany more
leisure for reconsideration.
Time presses for him. But, If he
follows his peace threats with blows
which fail, he will be in a far worse
position than he is now All this,
including the little action on the
western front, carries military i'm
plications in the past week which
illumine the next week. This has
been the most important week of
the war since the first, in the in
f1uence of Prime Minister Chamber
lain's and Premier Daladier's state
ments and Hitler's response on the
psychology of war, which is studied
by all war colleges.
Hope Record Has Been Kept.
In censorship and propaganda,
the Germans have been practicing
the confusion method. This allows
a free hand to all manner of boasts
and contradictions and the invent
i've fertility of a Hollywood scenar-
ist, so helpful in concealing the plan
of peace or war offensive.
For history's sake, it is hoped
that record was kept of the secret
conference between Hitler and the
officers of the high command that
preceded DR.. Dietrich's announce
ment of "the bath of blood"
The German high command has
been professionally silent. They have
not joined in the threats and boast
ings. Deeds, not words, are their
part, and now, If Hitler meant what
he said, they have a larger order
in deeds.
The exception was Grand Admiral
Raeder, who must have felt some
professional disgust in having to
bolster the Iroquois story with his
official authority. Even Marshal
Goering. who has not reputation
for being inarticulate, has been
silent of late He must know, if
DR.. Dietrich does not, that there
is quite difference between flying
at the best heights and speed for
accuracy to smash Polish towns and
cities and at height of 10000 feet
against anti-aircraft gunf1re to hit
the target of a naval vessel which
looks no larger than pumpkin seed
on the water.
Proceed to VIM
In case Marshal Goering had the
temerity to tell the Fuehrer the
truth, he may have said: Our pilots
report some hits. We have lost some
planes. I do not want to promise
too much until further test"
In that case, Hitler might reply
with: You are the air marshal.
You said you could win with planes
Proceed to win
And, allowing for speculation,
based on the Enthusiastically frank
way soldiers talk in conference. the
army high command may have
nodded asent with an additional:
BLOOD will not all be shed on one
side, Fuehrer, if we attack the
Maginot Line"
Dependent upon the reports of
his aviators, Marshal Goering him