Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-22
Churchill
.Woos France
Over Radio
Appeal Comedies
With Reports Of
Axis Pressure
By DEWITT MACKENZIE.

Dy Il
A cogent explanation of British
Premier Cnurchill's remarkable
fi,reside appeal to France last night
appears in the report from Berlin
today that the possibility of France
re-entering the war on the side Of
the axis powers is foreseen in the
German capital.
Coincident with this comes a re-
port from Switzerland that Messrs.
Hitler and Mussolini are trying to
induce the French government with
favorable peace terms to declare
war on her former ally. Premier
Marshal Petain is said to oppose
any such move, while Vice Premier
Laval is recorded as discussing it
with the Germans
Churchills speech represents to
my mind one of the most remark
able utteranceS ever delivered by
any tatesman-indeed. the circum-
stances surrounding this call in the
face of a shattered friendship would
appear to be well-nigh unique.
Effort TO Mend Bonds.
1t seemed to me to be in its essence
an effort to mend the bonds of a
comradeship which had been sealed
in blood. and instill in the French
tho Cr0irIr nf rf rotyN1t -
you will-against their German
masters. Certainly il was a plea
that if you cannot help US, at least
you will not hinder US"
There can be no doubt that
Churchill not only had in mind the
attempt of the Germans to persuade
the French to throw their weight
against England, but the fact that
many French people are utterly dis
lllusioned as regards the prospect OF
favorable peace terms and are ripe
to resist the invaders as best they
can.
But Churchill's broadcast was
more than an appeal. 1t radiated
a confidence which far surpassed
anything he has said before.
Registers Note Of Victory.
When the Premier went to the
great extreme of calling the Ger
mans "Boche,' as he did twice, he
registered a note of victory such as
he could have done in no other
way. So far as I recall this is the
first time in the present conflict
that major statesman has used
this word, which is meant to ex-
press the utmost contempt.
know of no other expression
which heaps it on so thick as
"Boche." There is no word which
can infuriate a German like this
one. To call man a "Boche" is
like splitting in his face and then
turning your back without waiting
to see if he resents the insult.
Churchill employed Hun" in his
talk also.
Churchills use of these words O.
contempt seemed to speak loudly Of
his confidence in British arms. Scorn
IS the reaction OF man who feels
that he has mastery over an I'M
worthy enemy.
One of the most striking passages
in this hymn of confidence was:
I'm l94l We shall have the CON-
mand of the air. Remember what
that means"
British Amassing Planes.
Well, what does it mean? In the
first place. it discloses that the
British are amassing warplanes
through home manufacture and i'm
port from the United States. at a
much faster rate than generally had
been anticipated.
Beyond this it is in effect a pre-
diction that England will be able to
inaugurate against German soil a
great offensive which, if successful,
would free France. This assumes,
of course, Britain's continued con-
troll of the seas and the maintenance
of the blockade.
England's greatest danger has
been Germany's superiority in the
air, just as Hitler's grave lack is a
navy. If the Nazi Fuehrer had pos
sessed war fleet capable of deal
ing with the British Navy. he would
have been undisputed master of Eu-
rope today Now if England can
hold her own until she establishes
superiority in the air, she may
justify Churchills confidence.