The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-10
Washington Keeps War Gaze
On One Main Point: London
By THOMAS M. JOHNSON
ArA Service Military Writer


washington, May i0.-while the
world strains It's eyes toward Scan
dinavia, the Mediterranean, the
Balkans, or Holland for the next
move In Europe's far-fiung war
game, In Washington the gaze Is
kept trained upon London. The cap
ital Of the beleaguered British En-
pire is the place where the war Will
be won or lost.
The British and French have
lost the Scandinavian opportu-
nifty, Not only Norway Is gone,
but Sweden for the Germans
about Narvik will have wrecked
the railroad TO Sweden's iron
mines. The iron will now go 10
Germany, not by water alone, but
by Sweden's railroads.
For this the British primarily
can thank their own indecision
and sluggishness. The ships they
would not risk in a quick blow TO
cleave a way for a timely. expedi-
tionary force they have lost In
covering that laggard forces
headlong flight,
Whatever the fate Of the Queen
Elizabeth-class ship the Germans
says they sank with bombs, five
other battleships or cruisers have
admittedly been damaged.
And these were losses caused by
bombers that from Norwegian
bases are closer than ever not to
British feet bases alone, but also
TO Scotland.
SCOTLAND
ANCHORED
The feet may move itself around
behind Scotland, but Scotland cam
not move behind anything 1t cam
not escape the terror that may stalk
In any MONDAY, For, Informed opin-
ion here believes, the German air
force Is now about 1T to loose upon
Britain Its dread Blit2krieg,
When the war began the Nail
air wing found TO It's dismay that
It might take on C2echoslovakia or
Poland, but not the western Pow
ers. Compared to British French
and American planes, It's ships
hadn't the speed, range or maneu-
variability. The Germans could
not face the menace OF immediate
reprlsal against their Industrial
area, Just a hop from the Maginot
Line. The air force had virtually
TO rebuild itself; evolve new types
and gadgets.
This Is has done, with puncture-
proof fuel tanks, more armor and
cannon, These things Gen. II. II,
Arnold, army mir corps chief, has
just mentioned here in Washing
ton; but he has not mentioned that
Britain was doing the same thing,
She Is not sure she wants all cam
non, but In everything else she Is
believed to be coming along so
fast that unless the Germans
strike very soon. they may strike
In vain-and then, be struck any
way.
TO Washington, Germany seems
to be at the peak OF her form,
not In the air alone but on the
ground, better now than she ever
will be again, Her strategy Is To
strike and KEEP on striking, 10
win the war this summer. That
accords with her tactical doctrine
and thus far 1t has worked. Now
What2
HOLLAND
COMING UP
Why not Holland? There Ger
many'S air force can operate with
telling effect not only against the
Dutch but against British attempts
TO land troops along the coast. Right
now Britain should be quietly re-
hearsing that very thing, as Ger
many rehearsed her Norwegian
lands, For British troops ferrled
across by sea and air could greatly
aid In holding north Holland until
more British, and French, too, ar
rived via Belgium.
From there--and from Norway
and Germany itself German
planes would ferry across 10 Brit
ain. Their cargo would surely be
bombs--eXplosive and incendiary
and Just possibly, rs Chamber
lain has anxiously limited, more
than bombs
Perhaps men, desperate men
trained as sacrifice attachments
10 attack vital spots or even "a
seize, q port where, aided by air.
craft, German troops would land
from transports. That would moi
seem impossible TO Hitler. MOI
would an attack from Holland and
Belgium or the Maginot line.
It would seem least impossible
at the moment his ambitions and
those OF MusSolini ore wingnp
over the Balkans, seeking the
food, the oil, the copper that both
must have for future conquests,
HOW ABOUT
CHAMBERLAIN?
A long way from the Balkans OF
Holland or Scandinavia to London
Not 20 long--for from London will
come the answer to the question:
do they get away with itp"
That answer depends upon an
other question::
Does Chamberlain and com.
pany stay In powerp"
II the answer Is eyes,, Their
Washington throws up It's hands
For most OF Washington believes
the Chamberlain government can