Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-06-01
INTERNATIONAL
I. NEWS REVIEW
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ment reconveneS after its Whitsuntide
recess, and there is no certainty that
few days it has been learned that the
foundation of Great Britain's reluc-
lance about lining up with Russia has
been eliminated, for in London it
was alleged that the only reason for
hesitancy was the fact that Poland
and Roumania disliked too close CO.
operation with the Soviets. London
says that those two nations now have
changed their view, and that they
have no objection to an Anglo
French-Russian alliance which would
be, after all, established primarily for
the purpose of defending Poland, Rou-
mania and other minor powers.
"Armed Peace"
And while the world is awaiting the
outcome of the Anglo-Russian nego-
tiations, it is taking stock of the
military preparations being made by
the powers most deeply interested in
the vital question of war or peace.
One of the agencies of the League of
Nations has estimated the relative
strength of the armed forces of the
two groups now more or less defin-
itely lining up against each other.
According to the best available sta
tistics-whose correctness cannot be
absolutely vouched for, since govern
ments dislike giving out complete
figures in this onnection-Germany
Italy and Spain (assuming that, in
case of war, General Francisco Fran
co would join hands with Hitler and
Mussolini) would be able to muster
at this moment, should crisis sud-
denly start, about IA million we'll
trained soldiers and approximately
IA 900 military airplaneS as well as
jointly-a fleet of pretty close to one
million tons.
Opposed to this massing of armed
force Great Britain, France, Russia
and some of the Central European
and Balkan powers would be able to
place in the field about 81 million
soldiers; between $4,000 and 10000
airplanes, and a joint naval tonnage
of about two million tons.
AS already said, these figures can
be only approximate, but they seem
to be close enough to illustrate the
probably relative proportion between
the two groups of states, and the sig
nificance of it all lies in the POSSIBLE
ity that dictators like Hitler and Mus
solini may have been bit awed
by contemplating what seems to be
the numerical superiority of "the 9TH
err side" The fact that the anti-dicta-
tor group is so much stronger may
be responsible for the calm that has
prevailed in Europe during the last
few weeks. Armed peace is hideous
thing, but-after all-it is better than
Armageddon.
"GOin' Home"
Very soon 19,4OO Italian soldiers
who helped General Franco win the
Spanish civil war are going back
home; at least, so reads an official
announcement which adds that at no
time has the Italian army in Spain
exceeded 10000 men; many observers
agree that the number was far in ex-
cess of that. But, anyway-whoever
of Italian nationality is there now
will be sent back, and great festiv-
tiles are being prepared to give them
a boisterouS welcome.
Going home are also the German
soldiers who helped Franco, and cele-
brations, likewise, are awaiting them.
For haven't they, like their Italian
brothers, VIGOROUSLY fought the good
fight in the sacred name of fascist
dictatorship?
And while the foreign auxiliary