Evening star., 1940-05-19
European War Laid
To Fact the World
Sold Hitler Short
High Ranking Officer
At louisionu Muneuvers
Advances Theory
Sy the Associated Press.

CAMP BEAUREGARD, La, May
18.-Out in the field where 10000
troops are engaged in a gigantic
mock war here they'll tell you, from
the generals down, that violation
Of well-known military axiom
have full knowledge of your enemy
and never underestimate him
brought about the present situation
for England and France.
An officer just in from active
duty-dirty, unshaven, but wearing
the insignia of one of the highest
ranks-answered quickly when asked
how Hitler got such a terrific edge.
"For nearly a decade" he said,
"the British, French and the
world has looked on Hitler as q
funny little man with funny little
mustache and tyranical hold on
his people.
World Sold Hitler Short.
Nov We know he is great mill
tarist, a great strategist, great
executioner. He apparently COM
bines much of Lees brilliance with
Grants ruthlessness. The world
sold him short and is paying for it"
A much younger officer, recently
out of West Point, put it this way:
There's a book we have to study
at the Point. About the first SEN
tence it says never to underestimate
your enemy and to know everything
you can about him. That's where
England and France fell down"
Following the custom of officers
on maneuvers the speakers asked
that their names be withheld, as did
others commenting on the present
European situation.
Allies Will Keep on.
Some officers are talking about
the war ending, possibly within 30
days, with Germany victorious, but
one whose military judgment is
greatly respected by fellow officers
said England and France would
keep on.
They will keep on" he said, "un-
til they forget civilization, forget
humanity and fight a total, ruth
less war with no rules, because that
Is the kind of enemy they are up
against
when England and France real
lie that they must toss every rule of
fair play aside and fight like you'd
fight a den of rattlesnakes they
may win"
The German type of blitzkrieg
will be practiced in the maneuvers
here next week. Commenting on
the coming events one officer said
the United States has hardly
enough equipment for a good prac-
tice and virtually nothing for &C
tual defense" He said the Sd Army
of 10000 men here "is about the
maximum of seasoned, hardened
and equipped men we could put in
the field on short notice"
II Deaths in War Games.
At least II persons have been
killed and about 200 injured in the
first two weeks of the war games
here.
The latest deaths reported were
those of c. A. Marino of Brooklyn
6 and Charles Davis of Niagara Falls,
N. Y, both of Headquarters Com
pany, lst Quartermaster Regiment,
killed last night when a reconnais-
sance car overturned miles north
of Alexandria, La.
Five others were hurt in the acci-
dent and two of them were believed
near death today.
Pvt. Marion Caudell of headquar-
ters, I'd Battalion, 18th Field Artil-
lery, was electrocuted when the radio
antenna of his scout car touched a
high-tension wire.
Several have been hurt in unusual
accidents. Sergt. Frank G. Cheslock,
Headquarters Company, I'd Infantry,
suffered punctured intestine when
he ran into the muzzle of a rifle in
the darkness. Pvt. (First Glass;
Michael Jacobs, Company c, 26th
Infantry, suffered neck and abdomen
injuries when a blank cartridge ex-
ploded in the incinerator of his
camp.