Evening star., 1941-02-28
IitIer's Alternatives Frought With Danger
Moy Be Forced Fight Losing Defensive Wor Over All Europe
II He Foi 70 Deliver Mortal Blow TO England Before August

and possible occupation of Portugal
Certain military attaches in the
Balkans, who have been close to
the Nazis for months, insist that
Germany must choke off every At
lantic port from the British before
attempting an invasion. In their
opinion this would mean Nazi occu-
patton of all Spanish Atlantic ports
and also occupation of Lisbon and of
Portugals important port of Lagos,
near Gibraltar. In Lisbon, on my
way home, Portuguese expressed a
great deal of concern about just
such move as this. Many Portu-
guele are obsessed with fear that
this is going to happen.
Last October, one of Field Marshal
Herman Goering's closest advisers
had a long talk with a friendly
journalist in a Balkan capital. He
said fatty that Germany must con-
troll the entire Atlantic Coast from
the tip of Norway far down to Dakar
in French West Africa, that Ger
many must control all this coast
line against the Anglo-Saxon
World" About that time sought
the opinion of a military attache
who had been 100 per cent right in
predicting exactly what German
arms did in Holland, Belgium and
France. He is probably the best
informed man on NaZi Military
policies and plans of any one of his
profession anywhere in the Balkans.
He was equally convinced that
Hitler must seize the naval bases in
Spain and Portugal and cut off Gil
braltar as completely as possible
before attacking the British Isles.
The Nazis' job, he said, was to
knock out Britain before American
aid could prevent it. He believed
Hitler would smash at the British
Isles from all sides simultaneously,
and pickup the little apples later
if he succeeded. Since September
this officer had become notably
cautious about making outright pre-
dictions about the outcome.
C0unterbalanCes for Move.
From indirect NaZi sources and
from knowledge of Hitler's strategy
it is possible, therefore. to build up
a strong case for German move
into Spain and Portugal. and this as
a final step preparatory to blitz-
krieging over the English Channel
Against this possibility, or prob
ability, several factors can be
ranged. Such as Frances demon
strated aversion to becoming in
volved in the World War. Such as
the inf1amed opposition and resent
ment which the Spanish people
would feel toward a German Army
of. occupation. Most important OF
all, such as the cruel fact that Spain
today is the most starved nation in
Europe and millions of Spaniards
can only be kept alive so long as
Britain and the Americas send them
enough food to keep death from the
door. If the Nazis go in, these alb
solutely essential food supplies viii
stop. over Spain's disorganized
ar-wrecked railroads Hitler would
also have a terrific job trying to ship
in sufficient food and war materials
for even two or. three German di-
visions in the south of Spain.
Perhaps Hitler would merely
demand transit facilities, so that he
could occupy Portugal - not
difficult task Nazi occupation force:
might manage to live on Portugal'
limited fat for a short time. Il
would be quite a big gamble, YET
Hitler may have to take it, especially
if he feels it is necessary for Ger.
many to use Portuguese port:
against both Gibraltar and thu
British Isles. If Hitler has certain
doubts about successfully invading
Britain-something which the evi-
dence indicates he must be plagued
with to a considerable degree-ther
a possible Nazi move in the Iberiar
Peninsula cannot be discounted dur
ing the coming months. Should Il
be taken. however, it can only bt
inaugurated in the face of serious
handicaps and risks
As a fourth alternative. one ques.
tion remains: Will Hitler invade
some portion of Soviet Russia? II
December advices reaching Athen!