Evening star., 1940-09-01
Now or Never for Nazi Drive;
Next Four Weeks to Be Fateful
If Britain Holds Out Until September's End,
Whole World Situation May Take
an Unexpected Turn
By Constantine Brown.

hopefully-to a German landing. They
seem convinced that it will end in disr
aster because st-ategically the German
Army faces problem entirely different
from the one 1t had this spring and sum-
mer on the continent.
Four Weeks to Rout Air Force.
There is, according to military observ-
ers in England, one chance that Hitler
has to bring Britain to her knees. The
complete annihilation of her air force
and her airports. He has four weeks to
do it in.
If the efforts of the German Army are
not successful in that space of time the
situation for the Reich will be far from
pleasant. In the coming fall and winter
months the aviation forces will not be
able to operate successfully.
In the meantime American factories
will increase their output for Great
Britain and the number of planes to be
delivered will be increased to something
like 500 a month"; possibly more.
The German government is fully con-
vinced that as soon as this country's mil
itary preparations are completed it will
have to reckon seriously with the United
States as an important factor in inter-
national affairs.
According to reports from Berlin, Mr..
Wendell WILKES acceptance speech
made painful impression in the Will
helmstrasse. The German diplomats
who are advising Hitler on American
affairs seem to have missed their guess
when they prognosticated that the Re-
publican candidate would take an atti-
tude opposed to that of his Democratic
opponent on foreign affairs. They be-
heved that Mr.. Willkie would be peace
at any price" man. And when the Re-
publican leader came out as strongly as
he did in regard to the policies of the
totalitarianS, Berlin became convinced
that United States preparations for a
possible war would not be changed re-
gardless Of who occupies the White House
in 194l.
Realizes Business Is Meant.
This Nations rearmament efforts,
which were scoffed at in Berlin as
childish gestures intended to intimi-
date the South Americans more than
the totalitarians, are now considered to
be grave source of danger to the totali-
tartan plans. 1t is true that for the time
being We are hopelessly unprepared to
meet trouble in South America II that
trouble begins in the course Of this year.
But failure of the German high COM
mand to subdue Britain before the bad
October weather sets in would postpone
indefinitely any attempt on the part of
the Fascist-Nasi sympathizers in the
Southern Hemisphere, and give this
country the necessary time to improve its
armaments and personnel so as to be-
come an important military factor In a
world where the totalitarians hoped to
have the upper hand.
A strong national defense program in
times like these is not directed at q
hypothetical enemy. 1t is directed
against a definite power or group of
powers. The passage of the compulsory
military bill is certain to make the people
of this country more conscious than ever
that they may have to fight somebody
sooner or later, and that somebody can
be none other than Germany and her
associates.
This is, in short, the situation. And
it Is for this reason that we must expect
the Germans to make the utmost effort
to cripple Britain within the next few
weeks. On their success in doing so
hangs the fate of the whole war which
was started year ago. All the tremen-
dous German victories during the last II
months will crumple like sand castle
If Britain cannot be brought to her
knees in the next few weeks. And that
the German high command will leave
no stone unturned and will not hesitate
to make the greatest sacrifice to achieve
this purpose is only too obvious The
whole question is whether the British
can stand their ground when Hitler un-
leashes all Germanys forces against the
Reich's principal foe. Some able mill
tary observers seem confident that the
British can do it. Whether they are
more correct in their present prognosti-
cations than they have been in the past
remains to be seen. And we shall see
soon.