SiebenbuÌˆrgisch-Amerikanisches Volksblatt. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1917-1971, 1941-10-16

may be at sea, fighting for the
Axis. Every French resource
will be placed at Hitlers disposal
when he wants it. 1t is no doubt
true that the average French ci-
tizen hates Germany and pravs
for British victory, but he is help
less. Every precaution has been
taken to make organized resist
ance impossible.
The action Of France is simple
one more Of those many actions
which have been dividing the en-
tire world into two distinct and
opposed groups On one side are
Germany. Italy, Japan and those
other peoples the Axis IS able to
control. On the other is Britain
and the United States. Latin
America remains the question
mark, and during the next few,
years both sides are going to use
every weapon at their command
-f1attery, bribery and threats
to win her support. This was is
no ordinary war. 1t is a world
revolution. And "woe to the van
quished' will be the motto of the
ultimate victor.
There is little talk now OF the
wa.r ending soon. Rumors are
again making the rounds con-
corning peace proposals, and
France was supposed to have
been drawn into the Axis for
that purpose. But it is extremely
difficult to see now how any
agreement could be made that
would be satisfactory to both
Hitler and England-to say moth
ing Of this country, which seems
determined to have a say when
it comes to redividing the world
around a conference table. The
chance for a negotiated peace, in
other words, might be called an
exceedingly improbable possibi-
lity.
The only other alternative is
peace through complete military
victory, which is what both Hit
Ter and Churchill have often said
is their sole aim. Churchill has
also said that England will have
air superiority within another
year and will take the offensive
then. But the events of the past
year have certainly indicated
that air warfare is far from de-
cisive. In brief, as good a guess
as any now is that this war may
go on indefinitely.
The theory used to be that
neither side could command suf-
fcient resources to keep the war
going for four or eight or ten
years. Time seems to have dis
sipated that theory. Germany's
conquests have given her a wealth
Of raw materials. She lacks verv
little that is necessary to war
and what she does lack she has
a good chance of getting - as.
for example, tin from the East
Indies, to have been obtained for
her by her ally, Japan. England
so long as she controls the seas.
may have to go on short rations.
but she is able to bring the neces-
sites to her ports. Even if we
accept German claims of sink.
ings Of British owned or con-
trolled shipping, it is obvioue
that hardly a dent has been made
in the Empires merchant marine
The questions of plague and
famine remain. But Germany and
Italy can no doubt last a long
time by cutting the food sup
plies Of conquered people. All re-
ports indicate that the Reich is
doing just that now. Plague is a
more difficult factor to discuss.
Rumors of it come from Eng
land due to conditions in afraid
shelters, food rationing. and the
deleterious physical effect of con-
tinued bombings, etc. But so far
plague has not appeared, and it
may be that modern medicine
may be able to prevent it on a
coolo