The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-20
|M'KENZIES SPEAKS
AT PRESS MEETING
Columnist Expresses opinion
That War Will Be Settled
On The Seas

Mackenzie, Associated Press for
eign affairs columnist, expressed
the opinion here tonight that there
was a strong probability the Euro
pean war would be settled in the
main OF the waters of the Eng
lish Channel and the North Sea
rather than On the battlefield.
Grains Of wheat will have more
| to do with winning this conflict
than will bullets" he said in a
speech prepared for the annual
newspaper institute dinner at Duke
University.
Also on the program was Prof. Il.
E. Spence of the Duke faculty, who
spoke on The News That's Print to
Fit" DR.. W. P. Few, Duke president,
| presided, and W. E. Horner Of San
ford, president of the State Press
association, spoke briefly.
THE further we proceed with
what British Premier Chamberlain
describes as this 'strangest of wars
the more apparent it is that victory
will come to that side which is able
to starve the other into submis-
sion" Mackenzie said. THE vir-
tual in~vulnerability Of the land de-
tense on both sides thus far has
thrust the burden Of offense upon
the navies and a%irfleets, and that
situation might continue indefi-
nitely.
"This means that the outcome will
depend on whether the British and
French are able to maintain that
ever tightening ring Of warships
which is cutting off Germany's sea-
borne food and military supplies, or
whether the Nazis by lean of
mines, U-boats and air squadrons
not only can smash the blockade
but turn the .ables by severing
England's W lifelines.
THAT is not to say that there
won't be great offensives under
taken in the western theatre Of
war in the spring. 1 think heavy
fighting is very probable, especial
ly in the air, and we may look for
bloody times"
"Whatever you may figure it,
however," he said, THE end is
likely to come through the collapse
of the morale Of m Of the peoples
through unbearable h%ardships. That
is to say, as the result of a revolt
against a government, or at least, a
refusal Of the people to support the
government further.
1T is a drab, unhappy picture"
There is none of that lift and thrill
Of charging troops and gallant
deeds. There's just that colorless,
silent tightening Of those blockades
with the idea of crushing body and
spirit.
PERSONALLY I hate war as a
wholly inexcusable method Of set
Ting disputes. But as between see
ing soldier die in battle-as I have
done SO ~often-and seeing helpless
civilians tortured through privation
as l have done-I almost prefer
to witness the soldiers deaths. It's
a tough choice to make. but the
pinched faces of the helpless little
folk gain the day.
(which side will win? Most neu'
trail economic and military experts
say the Anglo-French Allies should
be victorious because of their much
greater resources.
$50 far as we can see now, this
will be rue irrespective OF what
Russia may do, and there are sew
eral possibilities in this connection:
naturally our first thoughts have
to do with Finland's fate. Can the
little land Of a thousand lakes de-
feat the might Of Russia?
Brave as the gallant Firms are,
and great as their achievements
have been, they cannot hope to win
solely on their own resources. Out
side help might turn the trick"