Evening star., 1940-07-21
Axis Ambitions and Japanese
Tactics Worry u. S. Officials
Toxic Convinced That Only Hope of independence
of Americas Raw Materials Is
in Totalitarian Alignment
By Constantine Bro,un.

Despite the optimistic reports from
London that the Germans will have q
tough time II they try to reduce Eng
land as they have reduced Trance,
Washington Is more concerned about
m immediate threat from Germany
than about Mr.. Roosevelt's chances of
being reelected.
Two dominating factors cause Sleep
less nights for high oficials In WASH
ington: The determination Of the
totalitarian states to force their politi-
cal and economic philosophy on the re-
naming democracies and the attitude
Of Japan. With the totalitarian menace
Is linked the inevitable starvation Of Eu-
rope during the coming winter.
Beyond question Germany has con-
quered continental Europe. The few
nations which have not been vanquished
by the force Of arms are quickly hopping
on the totalitarian bandwagon and
blindly following orders from Berlin.
The arrangements between Mussolini
and Hitler provide that the Reich shall
have under its direct control all the
Nordics and France. while Italy will
have under its wing Spain and the Bal
kans up to the Pruth River and down
to the Balkan mountains. In some of
these countries there is still resentment
against the rule of the dictators. But
Hitler and Mussolini fully expect to
turn this hatred into other channels:
toward the English-speaking nations
which are still resisting the invasion of
totalitarianism.
Hunger Argument for Dictators.
This will be the hardest winter Eu-
rope has ever known. The severe cold
OF 1939-40 and the mobilization of most
OF the manpower of all the European
states have brought about bad crops.
According to the most optimistic esti-
mates. Europe will not produce even IS
per cent Of its normal amount of small
grain and potatoes. Whatever the fate
OF the British Isles may be, the British
fleet, 1t Is believed in authoritative quar-
ters here, will get away to imperial bases.
From these it will blockade Europe more
effectively than in the past.
The United States win purchase most
OF the surplus crops of the South Amer
lean states in order to relieve the eco.
nomic pressure in those countries. Some
Will be sent to Europe as a Red Cross
gift. but such quantities will be infini-
tesimal. 1t Is hardly likely that the
British will permit large consignments
IN neutral ships and American vessels
will not be allowed to enter the war
zone. Great Britain is so convinced that
an effective blockade will eventually
down the Germans and the Italians that
she would rather have her own people
suffer than let Europe have enough to
eat.
Hunger In Europe will help the die
tators In overcoming the remaining op-
position. Herr Goebbels will be able to
say. In the event Of a stringent block
ade, that the Anglo-Americans are re-
sponsible for the existing hardstips
The Germans and the Italians will take
all they need to feed their own people
and will in all probability do little to
break the British blockade.
Napoleonic Strategy.
In 1875 French general by the name
Of Napoleon Bonaparte led division
of starving Frenchmen, ill-equipped and
ill-clad, across the Alps. From the
heights of those mountains he showed
his hungry troops the fertile plains of
Lombardy held by the magnificent.
IN appearance-Austrian Army and told
them: There, in the plains below these
mountains you can get food and every
thing you need" Napoleon conquered
Europe with his scalawags.
History may repeat itself. It may be
Hitler's turn to tell the people Of Eu-
rope that across the Atlantic are the
fertile plains of the Americas which
can be theirs for the taking. The
parallel is not 50 absurd as it may seem;
IA years have seen tremendous changes
In the technique Of warfare and air.
planes have replaced horses. The ocean
has become narrower than it used to be.
Brazil, Argentina and the other South
American republics have no defense but
an inadequate police force. The United
States has still very long way-at least
1S months-to 60 before 1t can have
an Army to take care Of the defense of
the Western HemiSphere