Evening star., 1941-03-26

ature shows that such amphibian
enterprises are judged to be ex-
tremely difficult, even If strong naval
forces are available.
But it is hard to believe the Ger
man general staff would let its war
machine rust and acquiesce in i'm
provisations in sphere of action in
which 1t knows its own forces to be
inferior Likewise, 1t is hard to
imagine that the German general
staff would resist the temptation to
employ this same machine, designed
for land warfare, in sphere of ac-
ton where it is superior to any pos
Sible combination.
Undoubtedly an offensive against
Russia offers Hitler very favorable
prospects. From the bases acquired
by bloodless methods last winter he
could launch a pincers movement
which would have an almost mathe-
matical certainty of success. The
only obstacles in drive from Ru-
mania to Baku and Georgia would
be rivers, which have lost much of
their former Importance as military
lines Of defense. Moreover, he would
avoid the waste of time entailed by
the campaign in Western Russia in
19l4-5, which proved SO costly in
casualties. In fact, he would begin
at the point reached by the Ger
mans in 1917. If we can credit GER
tain information which has reached
us, he has already stationed special
forces in the extreme north of Nor
way, while we may note that re-
Gently German-Finnish relations
have grown visibly warmer.
We also may state that the Soviet
Union, which obviously was spared
a German onslaught last year on
account Of Britain's surprising re-
siStance, already has given away its
best line of defense. This is line
running from the Rumanian Noun
tain chain to the iron gate on the
Danube and thence through Yugo-
slavia to the Adriatic.
Not Ready to Capitulate.
The fact that Russia has taken up
her stand on the (by no means
strong) line of the Pruth River does
not imply that she is ready to capit-
ulate Even after heavy reverses in
the Ukraine and the Black Sea area
1t still would be possible for the So
Wet forces to withdraw to a line run
ming along Europe's Eastern bound
airy. The premises for this move,
however, would envisage an orderly
retreat which afforded the possible
ity of counterstroke at the moment
when the German drive reached its
exhaustion point.
The lively activity infused into the
creation of fifth column in Russia
is proof that German policy and
strategy still envisage acquisition of
Georgia and the Ukraine. Although
it is unnecessary to give serious be-
lief to the tales of Ukrainian peas
ants who hide Hitler's portrait be-
hind their icons, it cannot be denied
that the dissatisfaction with the
Soviet regime which prevails in cer-
tain areas would be of great assist
ance to the invaders. But the de-
cisive factor is to be sought in the
political reliability of the Russian
high command rather than in it's
military qualities e., the extent
to which the Russian Army is per-
meated with sympathizers of ma
tional Socialism. There can be no
doubt that in the younger circles of
the "technocracy" Cincluding, of
course, the army officers there is
much sympathy and admiration for
German skill and organization
capacity.
The objections to the possibility
of German attack on Russia are
not to be sought in doubts of its Sue
cess, for which there is every pros
pect, but in the question of Hitler's
ability to carry the German people
with him in yet another change of
political front. This question can be
answered unreservedly in the af-
flmative. Moreover, there is little
weight in the objection on the
ground that, after 18 months of war.
the creation of a new battlefront
would have a depressing effect on
the morale of Germany. Competent
opinions in Germany came to the
conclusion long ago that Hitler has
been forced to abandon his initial
tactics of always isolating one bat
tlefront, while in any case a 'blitz-
krieg" against Russia would elimi-
nate the long standing German
Russian front by producing in Rus
sia state of chaos which would
free Germany's back, as it did in
1917.
Attitude of Masses.
But all objections are based on a
misunderstanding of the German
masses. In Britain people still are
inclined to imagine vast masses of |
Germans awaiting the outbreak of |