The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-01-02
TIE Year in Reich:
Shadows Lie Ahead
Naai Military Triumphs Marked
1910 But Final Decision Re-
mains Just Out of Reach
By JOSEPH C. HARSCH
Staff Correspondent of The Christian
Science Mnnifnr

t>iumph, stands a mighty Tantalus
soised for supreme effort to reach
the fruits of victory which still dan
gle just beyond reach despite its sue
cesses on the battlefield.
Seldom in history have armies
achieved such quick and sweeping
successes. But also seldom before has
the enjoyment of victory been so illu-
sive as it has been for this modern
Germany which, time and again, has
seemed on the verge of realization of
its colossal dream but has still to
taste the sweets of conquest.
Doubts of ultimate success, how
ever, scarcely ripple the surface of
German confidence, either among the
military leaders or the submissive
long suffering civilian mass. For the
Reich possesses history's most ex-
pertly forged army, unconquered, in
fact even unchecked in nine months
of amazing campaigning.
Victory Just Out of Reach
But the year has always seen that
ultimate victory snatched away at the
last moment and left it still some
thing tempting, something seemingly
on the verge of attainment, but some
thing still illustive.
Now with the opening of the new
year that army is moving again in
another effort to reach by swift ad-
vance the rewards for which Germany
and the German people have been
sweated and rationed and moulded for
eight long years.
They are not to be deprived of it
easily. Their offensive power at least
on land and in the air is. greater than
ever before. The weapons hurled into
France in the spring have been sharp
ened by experience, plated by success,
weighted by new recruits and six
months of intensive industrial produc-
ton of more arms.
Ready to Strike
The thrust of this army wherever it
goes will be terrific. It's size is such
that it could, in theory, strike sinful
taneously in more than one direction.
The maximum force disable in an at
tempt against England is undoubtedly
poised along Europe's western shores.
Other even larger forces are appa-
rently in motion in the direction, of
Britain's Mediterranean possessions.
More are in a position to guarantee
the security of Germany's pactSof
friendship with Russia. Any number
of military possibilities are open to
the German High Command
Out of these possibilities the Ger
man engineers of war have selected
those which they consider best suited
to the aim of breaking England's re-
sistance and bringing the final victory
which would give the Nazi Party I'M
challenged control of two continents
and a world position unrivalled since
the day of Rome.
Penalties For Failure
But if 1910 has brought the ancient
German dream of conquest so near
fruition it has also witnessed the
emergence of penalties which must be
paid for failure.
Before the offensive started every
other country in Europe had within
itself elements strongly attracted by
the concept of the new German order
for Europe. Even after the Nazi ar
mics entered those countries strong
movements to accept the conquest and
collaborate with Germany persisted.
But with the passing of the months
that receptiveness has been replaced
by suspicion, fear, resistance, and
hatred.
Seeds of Wrath SOwn
The men and the ideas who have
followed in the wake of the conquer
ing armies have caused a revulsion,
have in fact sowed the seeds of wrath.
Never before has Germany had so
few friends.
Hope for its ultimate defeat has
swept from the areas under it's con-
troll out through the world. If those
armies ever falter and fall back, Ger
many will reap the whirlwind of it's
sowing.
The need to conquer increases as it's
armies expand their conquest. The
knowledge of this drives them on far
Their afield, silences the moderates
within their councils, strengthens the
voices of those whose ambitions know
the widest horizons.
Need to Conquer Increases
And the need to conquer increases.
The years swift victories have not
seriously depleted Germany's war re-
serves. The spoils of war have made
up much of the expenditures in food
and raw material. The German people
are eating today almost as well as
they did last winter, and their leaders
have stated that if time of serious
shortage comes the German people
will not be the first to suffer.
Yet there is enough change in con-
ditions inside of Germany to hint of
coming lacks if the war goes on in
definitely.
The rationinp system is beinp CON