Evening star., 1940-06-02
BY MAI. GEORGE F. ELIOT.

The first phase of the German
offensive in the west is drawing to
an end with the evacuation of a
great part of the armies of Fland-
ers through the Port of Dunkerque
and adjacent points.
With the first effects of the Ger
man surprise tactics now gone, the
fighting qualities of the French and
British troops are thus, under that
most severe test of modern war
withdrawal in face of a superior
enemy-being convincingly demon
strated, and the effect on the morale
of the Allied nations is almost that
of victory.
This may we'll prove more
important gain, in the end, than
the material gains made by the
Germans. Just such a lift was
needed to Offset the crushing blows
delivered by seemingly irresistible
German forces; week ago it was
being said by many who ought to.
have known better that nothing
could stop them" and something
like despair was spreading not S0ly
IN the Allied countries, but around
the world.
Now, as the splendidly earned
grand Cross of the Legion of Honor
goes to Vice Admiral Abrill, as
Viscount Gort returns to England
with the last of his troops to re-
ceive the honors due to one of the
v,oncf tHon,,f 81 ~,
all the distinguished history of the
British Army. as the French rear
guards fight their way in their turn
to the sea, scorning all thought of
surrender, we may pause to assess
the state of affairs which has been
brought about by the German ad-
vance and to examine what moves
may next be expected.
Three Nazi Objectives.
AS said a few days ago, the
German plan was modified
Schlieffen plan-that it, it depended
on strong right wing which was
to strike the decisive blow, but it
began with a break-through of the
Allied center, a rolling up of the
Allied left wing, which was then
to be destroyed by the hammer blow
of the main German forces sweep
ing through Belgium. The objec-
tives were three:
/. The destruction of a great part
Of the Allied armies-that is, the
Belgian Army, the British expedi-
tionary force and the French 1st,
7th and 9th Armies. This has been
only partially achieved. The Belgian
Army is out for the present, save
for scattered detachments Gas far
as is now known; the French 9th
Army appears to have been broken
up and lost, but a good part of the
7th Army and two divisions and
perhaps even more of the 1st have
gotten clear or at least still have a
chance to get clear; and the Brit
ish expeditionary force has in great
part been saved. The Allied losses
in material have been very great, in
personnel heavy but not so great in
proportion. The Germans have paid
heavily for this gain.
2. The driving of wedge between
the British and French. This has
been successfully accomplished, in
that communication by the shortest
and easiest route, across the Strait
of Dover, has been interrupted, and
the next best, from Southampton to
LIE Havre, has been made precari-
Gus. But communications between
the two countries by more westerly
ports has not been threatened, and
mutual support can still be given,
though the difficulties of doing so
have been greatly increased.
3. The possession of the Belgian
coast and of the French Channel
coast down to the mouth of the
Somme. This has been gained, and
1t gives the Germans important ad-
vantages-the ability to blockade
the Strait of Dover, which means
that the North Sea becomes in ef-
feet German lake denied to mer-
chant shipping and that great ports
such as London, Hull, the Tyne and
Leith are under blockade, as well as
a close approach to the vital centers
Va Cll61 1dIlO 4Ol SC1 lldll dAl VI d4 Y dllO
possible stepping stone for the
much-heralded invasion Of Great
Britain.
Choice: Britain or France?
The Germans are now in a posi-
ton where they may attack either of
their opponents separately, pro-
vided they do so at once before
mutual support can be organized
on the new lines imposed by the
German progress. Will their choice
be Britain or France?
Let us assume that we are in Hit
ler's headquarters, where two staff
officers, one favoring each course
are presenting their views. The one
favoring an immediate attack on
France might state his case thus:
If We 60 after Britain now we
leave the French on our flank. They
are consolidating strong defensive
position along the Somme and the
Aisne Rivers. In the gap between
these river they hold the formi-