Evening star., 1940-10-16
Chance Seen
To Stop Axis
In Near East
Blow to Reds Seen
If Nozis Control
p1rdcneIIes
FvDEWITT MACKENZIE.

IT, is one of the big moments
CT the European war-of world his
tory. fcr that matter-since Soviet
Leader Stain may hold in his hands
the balance of power between the
rorlir- Rome axis and Britain as he
debates Ruseias attitude toward
til. conflict at this critical iunctllre.
It is a moment of tense drama.
too, for they say that Fuehrer Hitler
is trying to jockey the red chief
into another horse-deal. that Ger
many's Japanese ally is seeking
n-aggression pact with the Mus
covites to stabilize the position, and
that England is trying to crash the
party within the foreboding walls Of
the Kremlin.
British Premier Churchill has
given us an unforgetable flash of
what this crisis means Members
of Commons yesterday pressed him
with questions as to Britain's war
aims-whether England was trying
to maintain the status quo of the
nations. Ee psrr;ed them until
frally ne flung back this grim
retort: -C
We are not fighting the war
merely to maintain the status quo,
but among other things in order to
survive. When our capacity to co
that is more generally recognized
throughout the world we shall be in
a position to take further view Of
what we shall do when victory has
been Won" 7li'
That's the story-it's a struggle
for survival. III
1t is difficult to see how Stain
can afford not to challenge Hitler
now if the latter tries to smash
his way across the Dardanelles. No
territorial bribe which Hitler could
offer would reimburse Russia If this
strategic strait should fall under
German domination.
This great waterway is at once
the gateway between the Black Sea
I'D the Mediterranean and together
with the little Sea of Marmora and
the Bosphorous forms a vast water
BARRIE between Europe and II the
Near East. -a-
Russia either must control the
Dardanelles or have it under
guardianship of friendly hands
like Turkeys. Were the DarrlanelIes
to fall to Hitler. it would to all in
tents turn the great Black Sea into
a land-locked body of water. Rus
sla no longer would have free access
| to the Mediterranean, and this rep
reseats her only opening TO South
ern waters. And it would enable
the Germans TO send naval feet
into the Black Sea against Russia.
Should Germany be able to sweep
across the Dardanelles and capture
the Suez Canal, the Reich would
become a Mediterranean power with
vastly increased strength. With the
acouis. tion Of Iraq's great Gil fields,
and other essential supplies in the
various countries. H tier would ap-
proach the elf-sufficiency which ne
seeks in order to make Germany
invincible as a military power.
This likely would presage the end
OF the British Empire and would
create terrible menace to Russia.
There is great question whether
the Germans and Italians could
force the Dardanelles against strong
resistance. Britain would be bound
to bring into play all the naval
strength she could spare for such an
operation, and if the Turks came
into the conflict as allies of the
British the axis might be stopped.
That chance would be vastly in
creased if Russia Joined the British.
AS things now look We have the
makings of one Of the greatest of all
battles in this Dardarelles situation.