Evening star., 1940-11-12
Nazis 10 Be Defeated
In Long Run, Balkan
Leaders Convinced
Survey Shows Civilian
And Military Chiefs
Are Optimistic
By LELAND STOWE,

Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
ATHENS, Nov. 12.-During the
last six weeks I have completed a
circuit of every Balkan capital, be-
come acquainted with what seems
unquestionably the most significant
phenomenon throughout Southeast
ern Europe today-namely, the pre-
vailing Balkan state of mind.
This state of mind is in direct and
surprising contradiction to Ger
many's present domination of polit-
ical and economic life in Hungary,
Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Rumania.
No peoples live under more inti-
mate contact with Nazi power and
Nazi methods. Nevertheless, in all
those countries seemingly an over
whelming majority of both civilian
and military elite holds the deep,
unshaken conviction that Britain
and the democracies are going to
win the war. In the course of eX-
tensive conversations in four Balkan
capitals I did not hear single re-
sponsible government official or poll
tician express the belief that Nazl
arms would be victorious.
Admittedly, this fact should not
be exaggerated, since certain cabi-
net members. whether Hungarian
pro-Nazis or Rumanian Iron Guard
lists, presumably feel that way. But
I talked with a considerable num-
Der of government functionaries
without encountering one who was
cocksure about Germany'S chances.
Reversal of Opinion.
On the other hand, it was eX-
traordinary how many personages,
some in government posts and others
outside, declared voluntarily and
usually with the utmost calm that
there couldn't be any doubt about
Britain's and the Allied cause
triumphing over Nazi Germany and
Italy in due time. When these
sentiments are voiced, as they are
repeatedly, by the Balkans common
people you might put them down
to wishful thinking. When they
come from men of long political and
military experience they are the
product of realistic analyses which
have ripened already since last June.
Actually throughout all six Balkan
countries an almost astonishing
reversal of opinion among the
governing class elite has occurred
since the aftermath of the gloomy
days which succeeded the capitula-
ton of France.
BY September the British people
had met their greatest and gravest
test with superb hardihood. The
last doubts about British morale and
will to win were destroyed for most
Balkan observers with the series of
bombs which fell on London.
The psychological effect of
Britain's capacity to take it and see
1t through" has been simply enor-
nous in Budapest, Belgrade, Sofia
and Bucharest, as we'll as in Istanbul
and Athens. In all these capitals
certain number of important leaders
have never doubted an Anglo
Saxon victory. A great many more,
however, waited to see how the
British would react to severe punish
ment, and today their uncertainty
has vanished.
Duce's BIunder Reinforces View.
I remember the conviction with
which Rumanian army colonel, at
the moment Hungarian troops were
occupying Pennsylvania, remarked,
"Of course, Britain will defeat Ger
many; there is no question about
that"
Among Balkan military men this
opinion is very widespread and rep
resents the judgment of professional
soldiers. Parenthetically this exist
ed long before Italy attempted to
invade Greece, but Mussolinis
greatest, costliest blunder merely
serves to reinforce it.
While I was conversing with one
Balkan statesman of international
reputation, he declared that British
determination, plus American indus
trial production, could not fail to
conquer Germany, whose arms pro-
duction and food supplies already
were seriously strained. He added:
Even If the axis powers should be
able to seize Gibraltar or occupy
Egypt, I know the Anglo-Saxons will
come out on top. So long as the
British spirit remains unbroken, and
1t won't break, no sane Balkan leader
can doubt the outcome of the war"
In another Balkan capital a dis
tinguished physician expressed the
conviction that the tide of tht war
had already turned.
Says Nazis Fear Loss.
"Nazi leaders themselves always
told us that a catastrophe for Ger
many could only result if Britain s
powers of resistance were backed up
by the gigantic productive powers of
the United States" he said. We'll,
that has already happened and it is
increasing every day. Believe me,
the Germans themselves know that
they are finished and that it is only
question of time. No matter how
dark it may look today or tomorrow,
the way out lies straight ahead. Per-
sonally. cannot conceive any other
result"
Since my tour of the Balkan capi-
tails was completed, the Italo-G Greek
war and President Roosevelt's re-
election both have occurred. Both
these developments can only mill
tate and increase most forcibly and
impressively the widespread conf
dence in NaZi defeat among the
elite of the Balkan civilian and mill
tary leaders.
To sum up, most of the keenest
and best brains throughout South
eastern Europe are convinced that
Hitlers downfall is already assured
whether one or two more years of
combat are required to precipitate
the final collapse of Nazi arms.
Copyright, 1910, Chicago Daily News, Inc
Three Young Girls Held
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