Evening star., 1941-02-27
BY LELAND STOWE.

Dy AELEh4ND - ~ w
Last May, after the Allied with
drawal from Norway, the foreign
editor of the Chicago Daily News
ordered me to the Balkans, by way
of Moscow. There was world OF
meaning behind the phrase "by
way of Moscow" 1t recognized
clearly the fact that the Soviet
Union is the greatest imponderable
force connected with the second
World War. 1t anticipated the de-
velopmentS which have so drasti-
cally altered the destinies of the
Balkan countries during the seven
months which l have just passed
in Southeastern Europe.
Now the question is asked
Where does Russia stand?
In Finland I saw both the strong
points and the weaknesses of the
Red Army in action. In Moscow,
and while crossing the Soviet Union,
1 saw now seriously Russian rail-
roads and transportation had been
disorganized by the Finnish war.
Veteran observers also offered i'm
pressive data on the lag in pro-
duction of many of the Soviet's
key industries. Finally, through
out these seven months, 1 have
watched the Kremlin's representa-
tives playing their cards in a des-
perate effort to check or counter
balarce Nazi Germany's steadily
expanding control of Balkan gov
ernments and Balkan peoples.
Kremlin Fears Reckoning.
AS a result of these experiences
I am convinced of the following
things:
First, that the dominant mott
vation behind the Kremlin's de-
ciSions and policies is fear-fear
of a final reckoning with the forces
of Nazi-ism.
Second, that this fear is inspired
by an acute realization of Soviet
Russia's inherent weaknesses on the
part of Josef Stain and his inner
circle of advisers.
Third, that Soviet leaders see
their only hope of future strength,
relatively speaking, through pro-
longation of the present conflict
to its longest possible duration.
Fourth. that the Kremlin's rev.
olutionary stategists see their only
safety in getting Adolf Hitler's mill
tary might overextended, in what
ever direction and by whatever
means may be available.
Soviets Playing for Time.
On this basis, it makes sense
that Moscow has not lifted a finger
TO prevent German occupation of
Bulgaria. even though any Russian
regime has close ties of kinship
and interest with the Bulgarian
people. The Soviets are playing
for time. They need time and a
lot of it. The last thing they can
afford is an armed clash with Nazi
Germany, yet they know all too
we'll it seems bound to come some
day or other.
Last June, while France fell, the
pretenses of Nazi-Soviet amity and
the Berln-Soviet pact were being
scrupulously maintained by officials
in both capitals. 1t is interesting
however, to know what the Soviet
secret service was chiefly concerned
about at that time Regarding
that, I have something in hand
which it was impossible to include
in dispatches from the Balkans
1t is confidential copy 1913" of a
Soviet intelligence report covering
the period from June 20 to June
80, 1910. The translation was made
in my presence from the original
Russian by an American who had
lived in Russia for years.
Nazi Divisions Strengthened.
The report cites the strengthening
of German divisions in East Prussia
and the construction of Nazi forti-
flcatlons opposite the borders OF
Soviet Russia. 1t adds that, &C
cording to reliable information OF
the 5th bureau of the Red Army
a Ukrainian national youth organi-
zation has been created Cby the
Nazis) and "is intended for activity
on the eastern front in case OF
war against the U. S. S. R. German
authorities offer encouragement to
members of this organization. They
are provided with work without
waiting and unemployed members
are provided with living quarters
and free board. Volunteers are