The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-04-25

The German invasion OF Scandinavia
has turned a long-held fear into q
grim fact. Norway and Denmark
have desperately sought to retain
their precarious neutrality-yet, de-
spite these efforts, it is obvious that
they have moved steadily toward war
for some time. The recent pessimistic
of Norwegian govern
ment spokesmen have provided ample
evidence of that. Scandinavia is of
immense Importance to all the belli-
gerents, and she has been subjected to
an evertightening squeeze from both
sides. Yesterday the squeeze was dip
lomatic; today it is militaristic.
From the cold, purely military point
of view, it is understandable that Ger
many should have moved northward
at this time because the Allies an
nounced that the blockade against
the Reich was to be extended and in
tensifed, and intimated that Allied
men-of-war would go inside Nor
wegian territorial waters, if neces-
sary to seize German ships carrying
precious Norwegian iron ore home.
And the British have been mining
Norwegian waters, at the expense of
German shipping. This explains the
German high command announcement
that Denmark and Norway are being
given Nazi "protection."
On top of that, there is another fac
tor involved-an intangible factor,
but one of great significance. It is the
factor Of prestige. German and Allied
diplomats have been working at fever
heat in all the little neutral nations
to cement their governments ties and
influence. 1t is apparent that threats
no less than pacific persuasion have
been used-anything goes in war time.
Germany, the experts say, had come
to fear that her inaction had caused
some of the neutrals at least to be-
lieve she was worried and indecisive,
and, as a result, had caused them to
cast more friendly eye on the Allied
front. The invasion of the North may
have been ordered in an attempt to
change this situation, no less than in
an attempt to protect her ore sup
plies.
There is evidence to Indicate that
the Danish government knew the blitz-
krieg in Denmark was coming and
agreed to tin other words, simply
bowed to the inevitable, rather than
offering futile resistance which could
have only resulted in a massacre of
her pathetically small fighting forces.
Norway, farther away and better pro-
tected, chose war. But her wartime
strength consists of an army
Of little more than 100000 men, in
equipped, buttressed by a
small fleet of warships, largely OBJ
solete. 1t seems inconceivable that
she can hold off the Reich long with
out immediate support on large
scale. The Allies, of course, must do
all they can-complete and unques-
toned control of Norway, along with
Denmark, would give Germany a su-
perb series of air bases for striking
directly at the heart of England, and
British merchant shipping
and naval operations.
There will be turmoil in the Balkans
and elsewhere now, as Germany press
es forward on the diplomatic as we'll
as the military fronts, pointing to
what she has done to small powers
which refused to cooperate" in the
past as an example of what may hap
pen to others refusing to Cooperate"
in the future. The Allies will un-
go the limit in seeking to
'outsell" the Reich. And so war broad
ems out.
Germany's action has posed another
ominous question: Does it perhaps
mean that Hitler now feels it is time
to fight in earnest, and will shortly
open Western front for hostilities by
his armies through Holland
and Belgium, thanking the Maginot
line? The French army is said to be
ready, even eager for this, and it is
reported that Belgium plans to open
her frontiers to the Poilus, once Hit
ler's legions march. 1t that happen
ed, the decisive phase of the war
might be concluded comparatively
soon, through the decimation of either
The French or the Germany army-or
both.
X 4 4
Business is marking time. The
downward trend evident recently has
been checked in most lines, but no sig
nificant upward trend has yet appear
ed.
Steel production is at materially
over level than last year-due large
y to the fact that production was
ahead Of consumption in 1889.
Automobile production is running
ahead of the level of a year ago, and
ate estimates indicate that 4,25O,OOO
,ars will be made this year, as against
',750,G00 in 1889.
Domestic construction goes ahead.
This years houses generally are
e.1,