Evening star., 1940-05-19

purposes-some are slower than others.
But there is no doubt that the Germans
in the last six years, have been able to
build an aerial feet incomparably su-
perior to that of the allies.
Reports emanating from Paris state
that Germany is now building 1900
planes a month. The British factories
deliver 1900 planes-the French only
7O0 Even if these figures are correct,
the allies have long way to go before
they can achieve parity with the enemy.
The alrplane is much more important
weapon for the Reich than the mysteri-
GUS nerve gas or whatever new electric
and chemical inventions the Germans
may have up their sleeve. And for the
present, in order to achieve a quick and
decisive victory, the Reich is reckless
| in the use of its air feet.
Allied Purchases Vital.
The United States, says Washington,
must not be niggardly in. providing the
allies as rapidly as possible with enough
airplanes to Offset the German superior
ity. This will be no easy task, for our
factories are not equipped for mass pro-
cuction and the output is still SLOW
After January l, 1s4l, it is probable that
American factories will be able to pro-
duce as many as 10000 airplanes year.
But January is still long way off.
Moreover, Washington Is deeply con-
cerned lest the Germans may put into
effect their threat to bomb England and
France out of existence. This would not
mean that they intend really to wipe
out the two countries That would not
be necessary for the war purpose of the
Reich. If French and British industrial
centers are mercilessly bombed, the pro-
ductlon OF war materiel will fall behind.
and it is conceivable that the entire in
dustry might become paralyzed.
The Germans would gladly sacrifice
5000 or l0,0OO>planes to achieve this OBJ
jective. Should such an undertaking be
successful, the millions of men at the
front would be completely useless. The
Maglnot e-regardless of its strength
would Immediately become like the
branch of dead tree, falling to the
ground as soon as strong wind should
blow from the other side of the Rhine.
ItaIy Big Factor.
All these considerations are examined
without taking into account the DOS
sibility of Italy entering the war. In
that eventuality the situation would be-
come grimmer. The Italians have q
strong air force. To fight it the allies
would have to detail flights from the
German front, further weakening their
position. The French and the British
can afford to spare few airplanes these
days The flying forces at present in
Tunisia. in Egypt and in Syria with the
army of Gen, Weygand are insignificant
compared to the 5000 or 10000 planes
the Italians now possess.
Lack of gasoline is one element on
which the allies have been reckoning to
defeat the axis. Yet the restricted
amount of gas owned by Germany and
Italy is sufficient to wage relentless war
for about five months.
A gloomy picture-but it is the picture
as seen from Washington. It is based
on irrefutable facts and reliable informa-
ton. To try to minimize Germany's
ability to cause the allies irreparable
harm, and to glorify the preparedness of
the allies would be following an ostrich
policy-a policy which is the cause of the
present plight of the allies.
The principal hope of Washington Off
cials is that the allies may be able to
hold off the Germans until the somewhat
clumsy American war industry can be
put on more efficient basis and can ex-
port sufficient materiel-especially air
planes. Should the German blitzkrieg
be so effective as to make French British
resistance impossible for more than three
or four months, the general belief here is
that we shall be face to face with
Hitler"
What policy this country will be COM
PEELED to adopt in the event that the
allies weaken to the point of crumbling,
Is question which will be decided in
Washington in accordance with future
developments. The one paramount
thought of the administration today
seems to be: Great Britain, France and
their allies must remain the buffer be-
tween us and the totalitarians.