Evening star., 1940-04-14
Allies Expect That Scandinavia
Will Be Merely Nazi Appetizer
Evidence Accumulates That Operations Impend
Against the Lowlands and Possibly
the Magnot Line Itself
By Constantine Brown.

After nearly eight months of inactivity,
the Second World War really started last
week when German troops occupied
Denmark without resistance and entered
Norway, occupying the capital of the
Scandinavian Kingdom and its key ports.
Ofdcial quarters had expected Ger
man move. Field Marshal Hermann
Goering had warned the world in q
speech made q week earlier that Ger
many would start her long-threatened
lightning war" For several weeks pre-
vious to the German Field Marshal's
speech, which many considered as q
part OF the war OF nerves, intelligence
officers had reported that in the Ger
man port of Stettin transports were
gathered and an unusual number OF
troops were gathered there. The sig
nificance OF this information was even
greater than Goering's speech.
The pending German invasion was a
subject discussed on April and by
the allied high command. But 1t ap-
pears that the British were inclined to
believe that Holland and not the Scan
dinavian countries would be the target
of Germany's blitzkrieg.
For this reason, the bulk of the Brit
ish naval forces were concentrated to
oppose a landing operation of the
Reichswehr on the Dutch shores. It
was believed that the Germans would
attack by land and in the meantime
their forces would land in some of the
Netherlands ports.
Allied Governments Surprised.
Unquestionably, despite assertions to
the contrary, the invasion of Norway
and Denmark surprised the allied gov
ernments.
Germany decided to strike soon after
Sumner Welles left Italy on his return
trip to the United States. 1t then be-
come evident that all hopes of a peace
by negotiation had to be abandoned.
The conversation between Chancellor
Hitler and Premier Mussolini at Bren-
nero dealt according to reliable diplo-
matte information, with the matter of
ending the war by final stroke in
which Italy would be called to play an
important role. Mussolini, according to
these reports, agreed with the outline
Of his German colleagues plan-pro-
vided. 1t is said, Germany was fully sue
cessful from the outset.
The invasion of the two Scandinavian
countries is considered in London and in
Paris as a mere appetizer. It is fully
expected by the general staff of the allies
fhQf tho Cro t,Hiv, oy,iov
crushed by the allies-will be followed by
larger operations against the Neither
lands and probably against the Maginot
Line.
The German general staff has been
quietly concentrating troops on the
Northumberland border. According
to reliable information, between so
and 80 divisions tof $4,000 meH each)
are gathered on that line at the present
time . ~
Concentration Before Luxembourg.
An important concentration is re-
ported in front of Luxembourg. The traf-
fic from the various ammunition and
gasoline reserve dumps in Germany to
the western front has been particularly
heavy. The German shock divisions
which have been in reserve for the last
few months are being brought back to
the front to replace the second-line
troops which have been holding vigil on
the west wall. Herr Won Ribbentrop is
once more in the background; frequent
conversations are now being held be-
tween Fuehrer Hitler and Field Marshal
Goering with Gems. Won Brauchitsch
and Won Keitel.
According to first-hand information,
the real blitzkrieg which will
plunge Europe in a bath Of
blood, will start in Holland. The
Hague government wants to be left
alone. The Dutch people have not fought
a major war for over century. They
don't want to lose their independence,
but if adequately supported by the allies,
there is no doubt that they will fight
There are many political leaders in Hol-
land who don't want their country to
share the fate of Poland The treaty
between the Netherlands and Belgium
does not require the latter to come to
Hollands assistance If she is invaded.
But in the light Of events of the last 10
days, high officials in Washington are
convinced that the Belgians will make
common cause with their neighbors as
soon as they are attacked.
The Germans feel that they must have
q base close to Britain for their airplanes.
Flushing would offer precisely what they
require. The distance between Flushing