Evening star., 1939-10-08
Hitler's Colleagues Put Britain
~ And France in Difficult Spot
Stain May Enter Asiatic Theater While Mussolini
Is Seen Likely to Campaign
in North Africa
Bv Constantine Brovn.

we DVOWUs
Reports from Berlin seem to indicate
that the German general stan does not
believe in the possibility of lightning
war against France, Such strategy was
possible in regard to Poland, which the
German Army leaders knew better than
the allies was poorly prepared to resist
the powerful German military machine.
The German high command has the
highest respect for the fighting qualities
of the French soldier and the excellence
Of the French general staff. The lack of
airplanes and war materials is only rela-
tive. There is no doubt that the French
now have enough war stocks to resist
the f1ercest German attacks for several
months-even If the major section Of
Frances industrial regions were de-
stroyed by German aviation.
Peace Talks Will End.
Because of this situation, the possibil-
ity Of lightning war is being discounted
in Germany as are the chances of dis
ruptions from the interior Once the
Germans begin an offensive war against
France, there is no doubt that all the
peace talk which inevitably existed while
the Reich's legions were fighting in far
away Poland will cease and every
Frenchman will do his utmost to meet
the German onslaught. But it must be
borne in mind that France has only
100000 available for fighting purposes
and no more.
Help from Great Britain will come in
few months. That is to say, real help
an equal division of the burden of war.
Great Britain has been slow in getting
ready. Her statesmen believed until last
August that war could be avoided; that
Hitler would not dare plunge Europe into
chaos for the sake of Danzig and the
Corridor. AS result of this belief, the
British Army was slow in getting ready
to fight. 1t is true that British aviation
has made almost unbelievable progress
IN the last Six or seven months. Produc-
ton has been increased beyond the most
optimistic estimates. The factories have
been working more efficiently than was
expected. But the man power of Great
Britain is not ready to take its place on
tHe fTencn 'front.' yet.
The total peace-time regular army Of
Great Britain amounts to about $50
men, including the forces kept in India.
These forces are estimated at about
10000 men. This is, of course, only a
drop in the bucket, especially when out of
this home army some $4,000 men are de-
tached every year to garrison the crown
colonies Of Shanghai. Tientsin, ETC., and
the inundated territories. The British
government last May ordered compulsory
military conscription for men between
the ages Of 20 and %. The number thus
incorporated into the army does not
exceed 100000. OF course, the potential
man-power strength of Great Britain.
the colonies and the dominions is almost
lnexhaustible. But England must move
Slowly and the chances of sending q
large expeditionary force into France
within the next few weeks are slim.
Asiatic Theater Causes Concern.
furthermore, there is another problem
which worries the military now that
Russia has definitely sided with the
Reich. And this problem is what will
england do in the event the Russians
decide to move against Great Britain
IN the Asiatic theater of operationsp
IN the last war the British had to cone
with the decadent power of the Turkish
Army OF the Sultans. in the Near East
1hls time the question will be how to
meet Russian threat against Iran and
possibly India. In the meantime, tho
modernized Turkish armies, under pres
sure from the Moscow government, might
claim In the name of the obsolete war
treatles the possession of the inundated
territories of Syria. Palestine, Trans
Jordania and even Egypt.
There never has been any real friend
snip between the Russian and the British
governments even when they were on the
best OF terms. In the pre-19l4 days the
English were seriously concerned over
the RUSSIAN aims at India and the
British policy has been, since the end
OF the Napoleonic wars, to try to keen
Russia down. Stain, who has adopted
as his own the expansionist plans of the
Gears, is reported ready to consider
seriously this time drive against the
Middle East and India, relying on the
TACT that the British, having to fight a
lie and death battle on the western
front, will not be able to spare sufficient
troops to meet Soviet military threat,
Mechanized troops can do in Asia much
more than the cavalry of the Cars used
to do and the menace this time is real.
The formation of Balkan bloc, under
the aegis Of Russia and with the blessing
OF the Reich, would help these i'm
perlallstlc dreams Of the hermit of the
Kremlin.
As the Observers See It.
In short, the present situation appears
IN the eyes OF military observers as
follows:
l. On the western front fierce Ger.
man onslaught must be expected. Thia.
onslaught will be accompanied by massed
airplane attacks against British and
French industrial centers.
2. Russia can help whenever necessary
with airplanes. while she might under
take on her own account to harass Great
Britain in the Near and Middle East
either with her own forces or with the
assistance Of Turkey.
3. Italy will not remain neutral much
longer. Her assignment would be to at
tack the French in Europe and wage q
real campaign in North Africa. This
campaign would take place either against
the western boundaries against Tunisia