Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-09-05
/ Might Be

by p. G. Stromberg:

Announcement of consumma-
ton of the trade of fifty of our
average destroyers for air and
naval bases in the Atlantic has
been received by the public with
greater reclamation than any
event since the signing of the
Armistice. There are so many
angles to the whole proposition
that appraisal is difficult. With
all the material and military
values admitted there is another
value which cannot be measured.
That is the feeling of self salts
faction which makes a citizen
proud of his country. The
general attitude of the average
man is comparable to the boy
who has just won a ball game
or the woman who has put the
finishing touch to a difficult task.
This pride kindles the spirit of
patriotism, the value of which is
beyond material measure. In
any possible appraisal we come
to our position in the World of
1910. The only criticism thus
far made of the deal is the fact
that President Roosevelt made
the commitment without seeking
Congressional approval. There
is no question that the agree
ment would have been approved
by Congress which would have
given it additional force
throughout the World. However,
there must have been reasons
why the President and his advis--
ers considered advance discussion
detrimental to the desired end
We should be willing to accept
the Judgment of our leaders in
any action involving the safety
Of the country. Particularly is
this true when the advance pub
lefty of such action has been so
generally approved by public
opinion.
Outside the United States and
Great Britain it is quite natural
that Germany and Italy would
evidence Lack of approval. The
louder they howl the better our
job has been. Some of our
isolationists express approval
with reservations. They fear
that Uncle Sans transfer of the
destroyers will be considered as
an act of war by Mr.. Hitler.
so be it! If der Fuhrer has one
per cent as many fifth columnists
In the U. S. A. as is generally
believed and is not fully aware
that we don't like him and that
we are almost unanimous in our
desire to see him and all he
represents driven from the face
Oh the earth, then his under
cover smart men are doing him
dis-service. BUT HE KNOWS
HOW AMERICA FEELS. No
question of that. He could have
declared war on US long ago but
ne wants US to remain as nearly
neutral as possible. HE PROB
ABLY KNOWS EVERY WEAK
NESS OF OUR DEFENSE BUT
he ALSO KNOWS EVERY
POSSIBILITY OF OUR RE-
SERVE ENGTH. HE
KNOWS THAT WE CAN PRO-
DUCE ALL THE ESSENTIALS
oF WAR FASTER THAN ANY
oTHER NATION. His hope of
holding us back on full scale
production is probably the only
explanation of his failure to de-
clare that an actual state of war
exists between Germany and
America. He knows that the
only friends he has in the
u ). A. are his paid spies. He
Knows, or should know, that our
Old destroyers will be used to [.
Keep open the ''life line" of
England's shipping. Why should
any Of US fear his reaction2 (.
am delighted that the atree-
ment delivering fifty destr0 rs
70 Britain is completed. Assam
ing that our naval experts
approve, I should like to see
more naval vessels placed at the
disposal of England. And l
should like to see enough air
planes sent her from this country
very soon to give her undisputed
control of the air. This would
give England an opportunity to
Jake the offensive and once she
mas enough reserve strength to
DO that Mr.. Hitler's ssWaterlooD