The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-28
= War
Interpretive
BY kIRKE l.. SIMPSON

German statements that more than
third of million tons of shipping
has been destroyed in the Atlantic
within span of days still lack con-
firmat ton.
If they proved true, it would be a
jarring blow to Britain but not de-
cisive. If they proved false or greatly
exaggerated, it would raise a ques-
ton as to just why Berlin put them
out at this time. 1t might give a
more definite indication of what the
Germans actually intend to do in the
Balkans.
Element of Denial
British spokesman have not gone
beyond the statement that nothing
out of the ordinary has happened
recently in the war at sea. However,
there is an element of denial of the
Nazi versions to be found in other
circumstances.
First word of the major German
sea raid last February IA came from
American radio listening posts, not
from London or Berlin. They re.
ported hearing a prolonged furry
of distress signals, and even a mes
sage saying that a powerful Nazi
surface warship was in action. No
such radio reports support the pres.
ent German claims.
The British have admitted the loss
of five out of 10 ships in the Feb
IA action. They report ten ships
safely in port and four others still
at sea but not overdue. Berlin said
IA were sunk.
The Germans still cling to their
original version. They can only guess
at the results, however, while the
British certainly know exactly what
happened, though the admiralty. may
cover up one way or another ON ship
losses.
What seems most probable, how
ever, is that Berlin deliberately ex-
aggerated for propaganda purposes,
and may be doing worse than exag-
gerating now for the same reason.
Just what that reason might be
can only be conjectured, but it could
have to do with the shaping of Nazi
Balkan policy.
Significant
German delay in actually march
ing to Italy's aid is becoming pos.
sibly significant. In the face of the
extensive and widely advertised
Nazi preparations for such move,
it does not seem possible that
alone is holding up the pre-
iicted Nazi thrust across Bulgaria or
1t is also quite clear that Britain
IS taking every advantage of the
German delay. She is making both
military and diplomatic moves of vi
al Importance. These are illustrated
~ the Eden conferences in Turkey
and British seizure of possibly use
i'll italian island on the Turkish
side of the Aegean sea.
Yet Berlin continues to stress
sea warfare as the road to victory.
It becomes increasingly significant
hat Hitler in his recent talk to the
Nazi faithful made no threatening
gestures eastward except to say that
rnoIv n n1nnt
ler British foes on any front.
The Balkan crisis is SO acute, how
ever, that it seems impossible that
/ definite break there can be long
delayed, whether it comes as a Ger
nan march to Italy's aid or as
of the course Turkey
Ind possibly Russia might elect to
AXE in that event. Not until Ger
many actually moves can it be GER
ain that all her maneuvering in
he Balkans is not primarily defen'
i've, and designed to insure protec'
ion of Rumanian oil sources, not to
i'd Italy.
If that is Nazi policy, smoking up
eports of staggering sea losses be-
ne inflicted on Britain might be un-
erstanGable. 1t might be designed to
onvince the defeat shocked Italian
ublic that it is in the west, not the
asst. that the Axis war with Britain
e won most certainly and quickly.
TWO HEARTS