Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-09-05
Washington Digest
BY CARTER FIELD


WASHINGTON. Best opinion in
Washington now is that Britain win
get those so old World war destroy
ers for which Gen. John j. Pershing
made a radio appeal recently. The
big question is whether Britain win
get them in time to do any good.
The point is that the Battle of Brit
ain may be decided before delivery.
Wendell Willl1ie properly ignored
the destroyer episode in his accept
ance speech. But while he did not
mention them, he left no doubt in
any administration quarter that
there would be no attack by him If
the government decided to give this
sorely needed aid to Britain. There
would have been no point in his
mentioning the destroyers, because
there is nothing Willlxie can do about
them. Even Il he is elected, the
Battle Of Britain will have been won
or lost before he assumes ONCE.
As matter Of fact, it will probably
have been won or lost six weeks be-
fore election day.
September is, for some reason,
has been the German headline. It
win be recalled that German repre-
sentatives, negotiating with U. s.
business men. proposed deliveries
after that date, though they were
unwilling to discuss why this date
was picked. They merely said that
the military establishment In Berlin
informed them that the war would
be over by September IS. with Brit
ain conquered.
BY the time this magical date ar
rives, fall weather will have set in
on the English channel. with fogs
and storms. which might result in
Dame Nature saving England again
as she did at the time Of the Spanish
Armada. OF course no one knows
what the new surprise weapon" is
that the Nazis have been talking so
much about, and about which cor
respondents with the German army
on the Belgian and French coasts
have been limiting.
1t is possible, of course. that the
Germans have figured out way to
land an army in Britain, after pull
verifying by bombing attacks the
country right behind the coast on
which they propose to land, which
would make it possible regardless
of weather conditions. This seems
highly unlikely. but it is unwise to
dismiss any possibility.
The general picture remains that,
at the moment, the odds are slightly
against Britain The picture re-
mains, however, that IF she is able
to hold out until the fogs and storms
come, those so old destroyers would
be tremendous help. It also APP
pears to be a fact. If the recent
published polls are correct, that a
large majority Of the American peo-
pie are in favor of letting the Brit
ish have them, on the theory that
the longer Britain is able to fight, the
longer America has to get ready.
The isolationists, headed by Sen.
Burton X. Wheeler of Montana, are
lighting this, screaming at william
c. Bullitt for his speech urging
more aid to Britain promptly, and
doing everything they dare to pre-
vent further aid. But politically they
have no place to 60. Neither Roose-
welt nor Willlxie gives them any
chance. since the Willkie accept
ance speech, to play the one against
the other. Every indication is that
even the Middle Western states are
gradually moving. though slowly, to-
ward the position taken by both ma
jor candidates.
So It seems more OF a certainty
that Britain win get the destroyers.
It's just question of whether it
win be soon enough.