The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-11
IN THE LOW COUNTRIES NOW

II it were still possible for the world De-
yond the warning nations frontiers TO eApei'
fence surprise at any new stroke NY lille"
his invasion of Holland, Belgium anu uA
bourg would have stirred that emotlon' 40 -
is. the world hears Of it as the arrival OIL Ill
exnected event. Another Nazi attack hao peeh
anticipated, and the question was "nere ~
would come, whether through the 10" ooun-
tries or the Balkans.
This new invasion, carried out with the GUS
tomary HITLER speed, has a slightly alnefenl
objective than his campaign IN ocandAnaV4"'
He went into Denmark and Norway for sup
plies and to maintain ore deliveries irom owe
den. He has entered the low countries to get at
England. With Holland and Belgium reduced
he can launch his attack on the British Isles
from the narrow arm of the North Sea- short
avinp distance-and use the coast not only for
his airforce but for his submarines. HITLER
has long made it known that his chlef tar
get is Great Britain. With the advantage OF air
bases and harborage to be gained through re-
duction of Belgium and Holland, he would ad-
vance another step nearer his goal.
This appears to justify a forecast OF ruin Tor
the countries under attack. France will be able
to move Allied troops in great numbers across
the border speedily into the Netherlands and
the Belgian armies, Utmost as speedily as
HITLER did, and it is not conceivable that a
campaign of such magnitude will terminate
until the lands and the cities are laid waste.
HITLER will not hold his hand or recognize any
rights of humanity with such a stake at issue.
He wants England at any cost.
The attack is the result of no sudden de-
cision. 1t has long been in preparation, as
evidenced by his troop concentration at the
frontier, and more particularly by the launch
ing of shallow fat-bottom boats for transport
ing troops across Hollands flooded areas.
Neither of these things could have been done in
g hurry. They took time. They AFFORD fresh
evidence that HITLER has been getting ready
for a low-country campaign probably ever
since the war started.
Just how we'll England will be prepared to
meet the new threat will be revealed in a very
short time. 1t will depend chiefly on how well
the new premier, WINSTON CHURCHILL, under
stands the menace and how quickly he can
take counter-measures. The Norwegian cam.
paign, as the Nev York Herald Tribune points
out, revealed three serious weaknesses in the
British conduct of the war: a lack of inform
alton and forethought, hardness in action due
apparently to lack of preparation against pos
sible contingencies, and especially a lack OF
coordination between land, sea and air forces.
It is reasonable to suppose that Mr.. CHURCHILL
an aggressive man, not an appeaser, wi. por'
mulate new policies to prevent recurrence of
the same laundering in the low countries
which brought the Allied defeat in Norway.
Mr.. CHURCHILL, facing the most difficult
task, probably, that ever confronted a British
prime minister, is doubtless assured of the
united support Of all political factions, as well
as of the people at large. They will find in this
new ministry at London, what they missed
under Mr.. CHAMBERI1N, a chance of ultimate
victory in actual warfare.
It is a hopeful sign that the Belgians put a
definite check to the Nazi invasion at the Dor
der and that the French and English troops
are speeding to the new battle-ground.