The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-07-03
Economic +.
National and International Problem.
Inseparable from Local Welfare.

lHSepdTdDle from Local VcudEe.
AS one news commentator put it,
Stain is the last and most impress
sive example of the utter folly of try
ing to appease the one-time Viennese
house painter who has become master
of a continent. The Russians, OBJ
viously afraid, did everything in their
power to mollify the Nazis. They
signed non-aggression and collab-
oration pact. They agreed to deliver
to Germany considerable quantities
of vital raw materials. According to
reliable writer's, they permitted Ger
man technicians to come into Rus
sian industry in an attempt to speed
up production and transport. They
did nothing to prevent any of Hitler's
territorial acquisitions. But all this
was not enough. And the oft-given
warnings of Winston Churchill at last
came true-when Hitler was ready he
struck at Russia, despite the pact,
despite all pledges of friendship.
Hitler's spoken reasons for war
against the Soviet are his usual ones
he claimed that Russia had not
lived up to her agreements, that Rus
sian agents were seeking the down.
fall of the Reich, and that he was
simply acting to save Europe from
the blight of Communism. No one
believes that these reasons amount to
more than an easy alibi for the wan
ton breakage Of another treaty. Rus
sia has in abundance what Hitler
most sorely lacks-grain, to feed the
German people; oil, to propel the
German war machine. And, on top Of
that, if Russia could be destroyed as
a military power, Hitler would no
longer have to fear attack from the
East. He could then concentrate all
of his weapons for the final assault
on the British Isles.
1t is clear to anyone that Hitler
has taken a gigantic gamble. Rus
STA, as Napolean found out, has been
the graveyard of empire before. 1t is
a vast land, and much Of it is geo.
graphically and climatically unfriend-
ly. In the Little Corporal's phrase,
empires die of indigestion" And
Russia is the biggest bite that any
conqueror could attempt. Hitler GER
tainly must have felt there was no
other solution to his problems before
deciding to give the marching order to
his legions along the 1,500-mile front
that extends from Narvik to the Car
pathians.
From the military point of view,
you can find about any opinion on the
quality of the Russian army, you
want. Russia gives out few figures
concerning the Red army. However,
lit is generally believed that at least
| 100000 men have been given mill
tary training and that, fully mobiliz-
ed, her regular army, plus reserves,
would total 100000 or more. Est-
mates place her air force at 5000
planes, though there is doubt as to
their quality. 1t is known that she
has gigantic quantities of tanks, mo-
torized artillery and other mechanical
arms, but, again, many think them of
poor quality by comparison with the
Nazis' tools of destruction. Of all
the nations, Russia and this country
are the nearest to being self-sustain-
ing, so far as resources are concern
ed. However, Russian industry has
been notoriously inefficient, and so
she cannot make the most of what
she possesses.
Even so, she is a tremendous an
tagonist for any power. And it is
known that during the last year
Stain has been working feverishly to
overhaul his forces. The morale-de-
stroying political commissars who
were stationed with army units and
who had the power to overrule COM
manding officers, have been largely
abolished. In truth, the Russian
army has been reorganized much on
the lines of capitalist armies.
The poor Soviet transportation sys-
tenn may delay full mobilization for a
month or more. But as time wears
on, and if Hitler is not able to defeat
Russia in hurry, the Germans
should find this campaign the most
difficult they have attempted
Mr.. Churchill's finely -phrased
speech of June % was of exceptional
interest. No statesman has beer
more antl-Communist-he has fought
the Soviet idea for 25 years. He said
he would take nothing back that he
has said before. But, he said, the one
aim of British policy now is the com
plete destruction of Naziism. There.
fore, he added, England regards Rus.
sia as an ally, and will give her al
possible aid
That is likely to be the attitude OF
oru government, though it may not be
expressed so frankly. Washington
doesn't trust Moscow, and high off.
clals have said lately that defense
strikes were Communist inspired
| a L., II l.