Evening star., 1940-01-21

AAS ASoAA00eAOAA CAAdU UllC pICSCllU WAT
may lead to the formation in Europe and
Asia OF huge totalitarian state from
the Pacific Coast to the Rhine is worry
Ing the leaders in Washington who are
intrusted with the conduct Of Ameri-
cas- international affairs.
The United States Government in.
tends to spend this year little more
than $1,000 900 900 for the Army, Navy
and air force. This is the amount esti-
mated by the chief of naval operations
OF the Navy and the chief of staff of the
Army as necessary to prepare the United
States against any emergency It is not
unlikely, however, that there will be, in
the course of this year some deficiency
appropriations, as was the case during
the last year.
Admiral Harold r. Stark, testifyinr
before the Naval Affairs Committee of
the House, pointed out that the military
and naval expenditures of the United
States might have to be increased in
the coming years. It all depends on the
turn of the present world conflict. He
asserted that 'at the present time the
Navy, while in perfect shape to meet
potential enemy in one of the two oceans
which form the boundaries of the United
States, has not sufficient ships and per-
sonnel to meet contingencies arising
simultaneously in the Atlantic and the
Pacific Oceans.
While only two years ago the idea that
this country might face trouble on two
fronts was pooh-poohed by every sane"
man, this possibility is faced realistically
now. In official quarters it is believed
that defeat of the allies might bring
about situation whereby the Navy and
the air force would have to defend the
Monroe Doctrine in the Southern Allan
tic and the United States coast in the
Pacific
In other words, in responsible quarters
In washington it is believed that a
defeat of the so-called democratic states
of Europe might bring about situation
OF "the New World against the Old
World" with the United States having to
defend the two continents of the Western
Hemisphere. Is this theory based on a
midsummer nights dream of responsible
individuals who are alarmed at the un-
expected sit-down war in Europe, or are
these fears based on concrete analysis
Of facts?
Colossus Caving In.
Most military men had believed that
q new war involving the principal
European nations would be a lightning
war. They expected to see each of the
belligerents making frantic efforts to
break down the others resistance
by mass attacks and gigantic fleets
Of airplanes bombing capitals and i'm
portant cities out of existence. Instead
the Polish campaign began and ended in
q most unspectacular way. The Russian
Finnish war is being carried out with
good deal of publicity but mighty little
drama. The colossus of Eastern Europe
proved to have clay feet after the first
attempt to overrun the valiant Firms by
means of an enormous superiority of
man power, he is caving in and prepar-
ing to wash up this military mistake by
some kind of an agreement, as suggested
by Berlin.
Despite the statements from leading
British public men, like Premier Cham
berlain and the Ambassador at WASH
tngton, Lord Lothian, that there will be
bitter fights on the western front next
spring and summer, the present con-
sensus of expert observers is that there
will be nothing of the kind.
Germany's greatest achievement be-
fore the war broke out was to build up in
two years the West Wall, making war
movement on the part of the allies as
impossible as the French have made it
in regard to Germany by construction
Of the Maginot Line. French and British
military strategists realized that neither
belligerent could invade the others
country unless it was prepared to sacri-
flce millions of men on gamble. Hence
the decision to apply against the Reich
as effective blockade as the allied
fleets could enforce. And there is no
doubt that, so far as communications
with nations across the seas are con-
cerned, Germany is pretty thoroughly
blockaded.
The Reich's answer to the allied