Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-20
Observations From
Various War Fronts

{ ii ~%1 N@ BE WH@
Marshal Henri Philippe Petain. pre
mier OF France, announced plans 4
transfer his French government to tn,
famous palace of kings IN Versatile.
in German occupied territory.
At the same time. he announced
that the new French state-alread,
substantially dictatorship bt
decentralized and based on the ole
provincial system OF pre-republicar
France.
The aged marshal, disclosing these
plans, gave the French nation an idea
of how he intends 10 use the power
which parliament has given to him
to change Frances form Of govern
ment.
AS he outlined it. it appeared the
framework would be a totalitarian
though decentralized. unit
Canada opened her first full-fedged
recruiting campaign to get 10000 new
volunteers for the Canadian active
service force, full-time soldierv for
duty at home or overseas, and to train
81 600 militiamen during the early part
of August.
Britain viii continue to eat in spite
of German efforts to blockade her
with submarines and bombers. r. S.
Hudson, minister of agriculture, told
the house Of commons.
I'VE shall have maintained our milk
supply and our cattle and sheep pop
ulations," he said, land we have both
a reserve Of meat on the hoof and a
large additional store Of cereals in
stacks and barns, whatever emergency
arises this winter"
The United States army is expert
menting with oil-burning diesel en-
gines in an effort to double the dis
lance its tanks can strike without
This was disclosed by Brig. Gen.
Adna r. Chaffee, commander of the
new armored corps, In an interview
before he left Washington for the field
TO hasten formation Of the mechanical
fighting unit.
The veteran cavalry officer discussed
also the possibility that it might be
necessary in some circumstances to
refuel tanks by air, presumably by
dropping containers attached 10 para
chutes.
Britain fears Ireland may be invad-
ed and a blockade of England then
attempted. With Germany already con-
rolling the continental channel coasts,
heir presence at England's back door
would be extremely menacing.
Premier canon de Valera of Ireland
S determined to maintain his country's
strict neutrality and has appealed for
/ united Ireland to defend this neu-
,rality. But Viscount Cragavon, pre-
nier of Northern Ireland, equally Is
to maintain his country's
present position as a part Of the
United Kingdom and belligerent.
Russian officials in Istanbul said
hat Russia had no intention of max |
ng any demands on Turkey.
These Russian circles denounced as |
pure nonsense" the fear In Turkey |
hat Moscow is about to ask conces-
ions IN the DardanelleS straits, or the |
caucasus region of Turkey.
However, the Turkish government |
vent ahead with defense preparations
The Britons have been carrying the |
ir war to Germany, and fighting toe
o toe with the nazis In aerial battles.
Whether this Is an indication of the |
British power Of resistance to the
oming German onslaught Is naturally
matter of pure speculation. However,
can be taken as meaning doRged
In view of the manner In which
hings are moving Ia the Mediter-
Rnean ana in the Balkans, one would
Rther expect Hitler to make his big
Ssault on England quickly so as to
void getting caught In difficulties on
Their fronts.
To Mussolini has been assigned the
Ask of smashing EnglandS naval
light and clearing the British out of
our sea-" as the italians like to think
the Mediterranean. It Is q Job which
Ill take some doing, for while the
Italians have a sturdy fleet, it has
erhapS no more than two-fifths OF
ne power Of the British navy.
President Roosevelt asked congress to
uthorize an additional $4,848, III ,g57
" defense IN a special message as
srttng that I'VE viii not use our
rms IN war Of aggression; we win
OF send our men TO take part In
uropean wars"
Mr.. Roosevelt's request brought to
$4,000, 0O0, 600 the funds
nd contract authorizations asked this
sssion for land. sea and air ar1na- /
ents.
THE principal lesson OF the war I'D
} the present time is that partial de-
nse Is inadequate defense" Mr.. :
oosevelt declared.
There Is only one power which could
tervene to block a German decision |
gardtng the Balkans-or any other
urOpean countries for that matter.
hat Is Russia. No one else has the
rength. II
Should the bolshevists take strong ]
IA action IN opposition TO Germany, :
lat would automatically throw the
TlYScoviteS and the Britons into the