Evening star., 1941-05-05
HitIer's Speech

SilduOWy ItIlIldll ftelCIlSIdR Cdlleu
together, and then merely to act as
a sounding board for pronounce
ment of the Supreme Fuehrer of the
Third Reich. It was therefore logical
to expect that Adolf Hitler would
have something important to say,
and it was widely expected that he
would sound the keynote for the
next phase of the war, as he has on
at least one previous occasion.
From this larger aspect, however,
the speech yesterday was a disap-
pointment. Most of the address
was survey Of the recent Balkan
campaign, coupled with familiar
assertions Of Germany's lack of re-
sponsibility for the war and violent
attacks on its opponents. Winston
Churchill came in for especially
vitriolic abuse. One of the more
interesting points was the inclusion
among the war-makers of General
Maxine Weygand, commander in
chief of the French Army in North
Africa. That does not look as though
Weygand had proved amenable to
German pressure; otherwise, his
name would not have been placed on
Hitler's hate list.
Hitler undoubtedly spoke the truth
when he said that Germany had not
wished war in the Balkans, which
the Reich regarded as a source of
foodstuffs and raw materials. OF
course, Germany wanted Balkan
peace on Nazi terms, meaning in
clusion of the Balkan States in it's
economic sphere. If Germany could
attain that without fighting, it would
be the most desirable way, since even
victorious war would disrupt the
economic life of the Balkan nations
and thus lessen their ability to sup
ply pressing German needs. That is
precisely why British diplomacy
sought to balk German plans and
create an anti-German Balkan front.
And the fact that Britain got Yugo-
Slavia to join Greece in resisting Axis
pressure is a feather in Britain's
diplomatic cap That Germany was
compelled to fight a costly major
campaign which it never wanted to
fight Is an important setoff to- the
military defeat suffered by Britain
and its Balkan allies. Despite their
serious losses In men and equip
ment, and despite German gains in
military prestige, the net result might
in the long run have been even worse
If the Axis had succeeded in master
ing the Balkans without shedding a
drop of blood.
Hitler did not touch upon topics
which the outer world, and doubtless
his own countrymen, were eager to
hear from his lips America was not
mentioned except by implication,
while Africa was alluded to only
casually. This probably means either
that these topics are too delicate to
talk about or that Hitler wishes to
keep the world guessing as to his
next moves. 1t may we'll be that
German policy and strategy are to
be veiled by smoke screen Of propa-
gandist rumor until some fresh
stroke reveals the new trend beyond
a doubt. Significantly, Hitler no
longer predicts quick conquest of
his enemies. He spoke of the ex-
pected increase in German military
strength "this year and next"
The one thing practically certain
Is that one or more vigorous strokes
are coming soon. Hitler still has the
initiative, and he is not the man to
waste time when time itself is for
him wasting asset. Everything
portends that German strategy and
diplomacy will be concentrated on
the Mediterranean and Near East
ern areas. Yet the battle OF the At
lantic and the battle over Britain
still continue with unabated fury.
In the last analysis, they are the
crucial points in the titanic struggle.
That is something which should
never be forgotten. We may be sure
that Hitler does not forget IT,