Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-06-06

Best informed opinion has it that
Hitler is likely to make first of all
a grand dash for Paris, try to beat
the French into submission and a
separate peace, treaty-and then con-
solidate all his forces on an attack
on London and the rest of England.
There is also the guess that he may,
relying on the admitted superiority
of his air force, attempt an attack
on Paris and London at the same
time.
But the fact of the matter is that
nobody really knows. Herr Hitler
is not one to broadcast his plans in
advance.
Unknown Factor.
Nor is his spiritual and political
brother, Signor Mussolini of Italy.
There was at the beginning of this
week ample evidence that he had
fully made up his mind to 60 to war
and 60 to war on the side of Hitler,
his ally. 1t was simply a question
of the correct psychological moment.
1t was also a question of where
MusSolini would strike, but prevalent
opinion had it that he might attack
either Egypt or Tunesia in North
Africa, or that he might move on
southeastern France either through
neutral Switzerland or directly across
the Italo-French border. Should he
select this latter move, it would be
for the one purpose of attacking Paris
from the south while Hitler took care
of the attack from the north.
At the moment of writing it
seems certain that the present
week will witness an Italian at
tack - somewhere. Apparently,
MusSOlini now has a premOni-
ton that Hitler is likely to win,
and, as in 1915, Italy wants to
be sure beforehand of being on
the side of the winner.
What effect Italy's taking part in
the war might have on the Balkan
situation is problematical, but it
would be probable that Turkey and
Roumania would feel under obliga-
tons to go to war as the allies of
Great Britain and France.
Further RamificatiOns.
There have been hints that other
powers will become involved in the
great catastrophe.
At the present time a japanese
delegation is visiting Rome for the
oStensible purpose of discussing in
creased trade between Japan and
Italy. Discussions of this nature oc-
casionally lead to political under
standings, too, and in some of the
information which comes from Rome
and Tokyo may be found indications
that a tie-up is not entirely improb-
able.
And then there is Spain. Gen.
eral Frances Spain, so deeply in
debted to both Germany and Italy
for the help they gave him during
the civil war in his country. Span
ish soldiers are on the march, and the
Spanish press is working itself into
Mysteries denouncing the British and
bitterly expressing itself against the
fact that Gibraltar, the southernmost
tip of Spain, is considered British ter
ritory.
Francois Spain has remained very
quiet during the first stages of this
second world war, but this attitude
may not be continued-the way things
look this week.
American Fears.
AS the European conflagration
spreads, there is in the United States
increasing fear that this country may
become involved. There is no i'm
mediate prospect of that, but-you
never can tell.
There have been disturbing-ap-
parently German-inspired- troubles
in several of the South American
republics, and the possibility still ex-
lists that Germany may work through
Mexico. All of this is guesswork, but
one fact is quite definite, and that
is that Germany, should it be vic
torious in Europe, would not be in
position to make a direct attack on
North America.
But there is still the possibility
that German troubles may come
to the United States by way of
the American republics.
1t is this fear that inspires the
feverish defense activity of President
Roosevelt and the Congress. So far,
it has not been discovered what
motive Germany might plead for a
war against the United States, and
there really is no objective in sight.
But in war-torn world it is easy
to invoke the ghosts of fear.
So far, all probing of popular senti-
ment in this country shows quite con-
clusively that the hope for continued
peace is uppermost. But, of course,
no one can possibly predict what
further events may develop which
may make American peace most diff
ficult to maintain.
A Little Spice