Evening star., 1940-05-20
Lochner
Continued From First Page.)

ment, types Of weapons used and
other details.
With this knowledge, reinforced
by photographs, the Germans. ter
rorizing "Stukas' (dive bombers,,
followed by heavy bombers, dash
madly down on the enemy, smashing
towns-if necesSary-through which
troops are pushing, demolishing rail-
way tracks. telephone lines and in
dustrial plants and annihilatin2
marching columns.
Meanwhile, the air information
service informs speedy mechanical
units where the bombing has been
successful. Quick as lighting. these
dart forward in the face Of the
enemy with -disdaining cour-
age while the foe is in utter con-
fusion. After these mobile forces
have routed the enemy, the main
army is ready to move in.
We had one glimpse of Germany's
extreme preparedness when we saw
with what speed bridges are re-
placed.
The fact is that Germany's army
engineers have exactly fitting SUBJ
stitute bridges ready for every
strategic river or canal crossing in
Belgium or France likely to be dyna-
mited or otherwise damaged.
German reinforcement cars bring
all this ready-made equipment with
them on wheels in the motorized
vanguard.
Another indication of prepared
ness in every detail came to us when
in our 400-mile drive from Berlin to
the last German frontier station we
passed through Munster, in West
phalia, the scene of the signing of
the Westphalian peace treaty in
1648 which brought to an end the
Thirty Years War.
Hitler already seems determined
that if he forces England and
France to their knees he will make
their representatives come to Mum
sters picturesque and ancient hall
to sign on the dotted line.
In other words, Hitler is not con-
tent now with wiping out the last
vestiges of the Versailles treaty.
His mind goes back to 1643 when
the Germany of the Holy Roman
Empire was broken up into princi-
palities and powerless miniature
states. To rectify that mistake he
is reported to have chosen Munster
symbolically for the peace con-
ference.
How completely the air force
dominates the situation WAS appar-
ent to us during the cross-country
drive.
Long columns of anti-aircraft
guns, cannon, air force supply cars
and gasoline vehicles were moving
with unabating regularity toward
the actual operations area.
II any column called for q short
rest, two anti-aircraft guns were
mounted Immediately and the
sharpest lookout kept for any pos
sible enemy.
With the exception Of these NOV
ing motorized columns and the fact
that we saw men In uniforms, in
cities large and small through which
we passed, there was nothing indi-
eating the mad holocaust only q
relatively short distance away.
Germany seemed at peace and
even the Polish prisoners working
in the fields seemed like harbingers
Of peace.
Queries About Hitler.
Not SO at night, however, All
along the Western German fringe
through which our car passed people
told US how night after night they
must 60 to air raid protection cellars
as a precautionary measure. They
claimed that only a little damage
has been done but, they said, it is
annoying to have ones sleep broken.
We hardly reached our hotel on
the German border when we too
learned what it means to drop every
thing and run for cover as warning
sirens resounded. 1t proved to be q
false alarm, however.
where is Eitler?" was one of
the first questions we asked.
Each officer or private asked that
question would tell us he saw the
Fuehrer some time or other in the
past week.
Apparently Hitler is moving from
one formation to another with the
same dash which characterizes ali
his actions.
Naturally his whereabouts at any
given moment is = closely guarded
secret.