Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-08-29
They Call 1t
POLITICS
By CARTER FIELD
bell Syndicate-WNU Service

WASHINGTON.- question is
repeatedly asked: docs the Presi-
dent know something he cannot
tell?" Meaning, of course, whether
Mr.. Roosevelt knows Of some specif-
ic threat to the United States which
is responsible for the feverish activ-
ity to get this country prepared"
Certainly the President has had
lot Of reports which he has not stat
ed publicly.
For instance, it was the conviction
Of the Military intelligence Of the
U. S. army up to about a month
ago that the Germans would win the
Battle of Britain and would win it
within -four weeks from the time
the Nazis started.
Since then Military intelligence
has revised its views sharply. The
revision has been due to two factors.
One is that the British air lighting
has surprised the world. For con-
siderable period of time. AFTER the
French collapse and carrying
through to the last reports as this is
written, the British had been losing
only about one plane to four for the
Germans.
This is not enough to white the
Germans down to size," or to give
the British sporting chance
against the Nazi air armadas. But
it has changed the picture tremen-
dously so far as any opinions as
to a ''four-week conquest are con-
cerned.
Naturally this information" at
the time it was believed by Military
intelligence, was not made public.
It was based on what the army Of
ficers regarded as the best reports
available-from their own observers
abroad-but after all it was merely
opinion, convincing as it might be
to the army. Naturally also, this
prediction was reported to the Pres
ident, and naturally it alarmed him,
especially as it so happens that most
of the predictions which Military
intelligence had made as to earlier
features Of the war were amazingly
accurate.
The President has also heard
some gloomy forecasts from a GER
tain naval source. The real point Of
all this is that the President was
more pessimistic, and hence more
convinced Of the necessity Of
SPEEDY preparedness on the part
Of this country, than he had the
right to explain to the country.
Why, it might be asked, should a
forecast of quick British defeat have
worried the President so far as THIS
country is concerned.
Because the President is much
worried about what the Nazis will
do If they conquer Britain. For in
stance, there is the Caribbean,
where victorious Germany might
attempt to seize possessions of the
conquered, possessions which would
make magnificent air bases for
eventual attack on the Panama
canal or the U. S. ITSELF For In
stance, in some Latin American
countries there are tremendous Ger
man and Italian populations.
This is a perfect Illustration of
the sort of things the President is
thinking about which he cannot men,
ton publicly. There are others.
Some Of them are not quite so deli
cate. AS matter of fact, a consid-
cradle number of senators, repre-
sentatives and newspaper men knew
about this ''four-weeks" prediction,
but it was not mentioned publicly
until AFTER Military intelligence
had changed its predictions. In
fact, Il there had been no change
in the view Of army leaders, the
subject would not have been men
toned even here