Evening star., 1940-01-21
Defense Bill Of Nearly 2 Billion
A Year Worries i. S. Leaders
Possibility That This Country May Face Trouble
on Two Fronts Now Is Viewed
Realistically by Officials
By Constantine Br0vn.

blockade has been not only q somewhat
ineffective counter stroke by submarines,
but includes campaign of saving their
raw materials which the Reich had gath
cred during the years of peace. There
are no extravagant bombardments on
the western front because Germany does
not want to waste ammunition uselessly.
For the same reason, there are no reck-
less air raids Germany Is spreading
toward the south and is attempting to
gain, by bullying and agreements, COM
plete control over all the raw materials
the southeastern states produce. In the
last few weeks the bullying part has
been soft-pedaled and the representa-
tives Of Herr Hitler are discussing the
question of profitable interchange of
goods with the Belgrade, Bucharest and
Sofia governments in calmer atmo-
sphere than in the past They are at
tempting to reach their object on the
installment plan, and by endeavoring to
gain the good will of the people they
are dealing with. Wild ducks flock to
the blind when there is enough corn
strewn around.
Hitler knows that if Germany can
graft herself into Russia his problem
Of winning this war is practically solved.
There are so many unexpected raw ma
terials in that country that Germany
would fear no blockade for generations,
If the riches of the U. S. S. r. could be
worked efficiently.
A Germany with a powerful line of
defense on the western front and lack
ing only very few Of the necessary raw
materials for the prosecution of long
war, can rest in peace. Germany con-
trolling Europe from the Pacific Coast
-Siberia-to the Rhine, cannot be de-
feated by military action.
Pilots Trained in Canada.
There is no doubt that the allies will
endeavor to break the dangerous dead
lock. They have assurances that Amer
lean airplane factories will be able to
deliver minimum Of 100 planes month
from this year on. Canada has become
the training ground for thousands of
pilots to be placed in charge of these
planes The allies, however, hope to
have crushing air superiority over
the Reich only after 1941. VIII their
people be willing to endure a sitdown
war with its unbearable tax burdens
that long? That is the crux of the prob
lem which worries Washington leaders.
III allie&Danqpt 3and the Aegaand
Germany can organize Russia "a 4 to-
talitarian basis. there is strong possibility
that the European "democracies" will 90
down and totalitarian Europe will ex-
tend from the Pacific to the Rhine, If not
to the Channel. Japan is watching de-
velopments and will not take definite
position in the present conflict unless
the situation becomes more clear.
Should the German plan succeed,
there is strong belief that the Western
Hemisphere will feel the pressure of fed
eralized Europe. 1t will feel the pressure
in South America and in the Pacific from
the new bloc, which will include the old
axis plus Russia. 1t is true that Italy
is flirting at the present time with the
United States, but those who know the
mind of the Italian dictator have no
doubt that he will not get on the wrong
bandwagon, and the present dissensions
with Berlin and Moscow would be ironed
out as soon as Berlin begins to teach
the Russians the goose-step.
Pressure on the United States will be
great, from the political and economic
angles, in the opinions of those who
think that European liberalization can
be accomplished rapidly. Because of the
possible developments, this country, say
the proponents, must not only keep its
powder dry, but must increase, beyond
previous conceptions, the national de-
fense.
Whether larger battleships, greater
and speedier planes and heavier tanks
will be sufficient to meet a situation
which has more social and economic
angles than brute military expansion Is
a matter which only the future will tell.
For the time being, the administration
and majority Of Congressman believe
that military preparedness is essential
to meet the emergency. What steps may
have to be taken later to readjust the
national defense to the new situation
will be determined in due course.