Evening star., 1941-07-10
WishfuI Thinking on Outcome
In Russia Declared Dangerous
Nozis Goin Propaganda Weapon When
False Hopes CrumbIe, Observer Says

may go eltner way, OUT lfldl lilc
Germans still retain those very def
mite advantages with which they
opened the campaign--air superior
ity, superior communications and
superior staff work-and we should
reflect on the fact that no major
German offensive in this war has
vet been definitely stopped, much
less completely defeated.
On the other hand, no German
offensive in this war has as yet
attempted to smash through fully
organized and stoutly defended de-
fensive zone of the depth and char
acter which the Russian defenSes
appear to possess, and especially one
in whose defense there is to be found
so powerful force or armored troops
Tor those counterattackS which are
the heart and soul of any successful
defense.
Value as Propaganda Weapon.
For two days the German COM
muniqueS have told us only that
offensive operations are proceeding
according to plan. Remembering
that no German communique is ever
issued without careful thought being
given to its value as a propaganda
weapon. we should realize the posi-
ton which these communicates give
to the German propaganda machine.
If. despite all the expectations OF
the high command. misfortune over
takes Germans arms. the high COM
mand is not in the position of hav-
ing claimed more than 1t was able
to accomplish. If, on the other hand
-ano this is the important point TO
remember-the struggles now in
progress end in decisive German
success. the Germans will be able,
after their usual custom, TO spring
this success as a smashing surprise
upon the American and British
peoples and the neutral world at a
moment when many OF us were be-
ginning to think that perhaps the
Russians had chance alter all.
Here lies the danger OF too much
wishtul thinking-it plays directly
into the hands of the Germans who
know full we'll the value to their
cause of arouSing false hopes and
then dashing them by sudden and
sickening reversal of circumstances.
The latest instance of this was IN
the case of Yugoslavia on whose re-
slstanCe so many unjuStlfied hopes
were built up only to have these
hopes swept away in matter OF
few days by the sweep OF the Ger
man Armies through the Balkans.
Not only did this come with all the
shock of terrible ppolntment.
but the utmost capital was made OF
it by the German propaganda ma
chine in every part OF the world,
ana by our own defeatlStS and lso-
lationists here in the United States.
Not a Breathing Spell.
We cannot afford to offer such an
oppol tunlty again either to the Ger
mans or TO those in our own country
who. consciously or unconsclously,
ale playing Hitlers game. And
therefore it behooves us all to put
rein upon our thoughts and hopes
with regard to the outcome of the
struggles now in progress along the
western frontier of the Soviet Union.
We must not allow ourselves TO be-
lieve. until We have far better evi-
dence than We now possess. that
such IS the case, that the German
offensive can be definitely stopped
by The Russian Armies.
We must regard the fact that
Hitler's necessities have compelled
him to turn eastward. not as a
breathing spell in which We may
relax, as Senator Wheeler would