davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-01-19
ChiIds
Continued From Page CID

eign and Domestic Commerce in the
Department of Commerce.
Besides those with official connections,
there are not a few tycoons who come
in and out of Washington on unofficial
errands in the interest of some phase
of rearmament and national defense
One of the most inconspicuous of these
unofficial assistants is the Presidents
old friend, Vincent Astor. While their
friendship has not been publicized in
recent years, they have remained close
Astor is frequent visitor at the Justice
Department but neither he nor any one
there will discuss what his special job
may be.
Another White House friend who has
tried to make himself useful in various
ways is Marshall Field III. Field led
the movement to bring English and
other refugee children to this country
and has been one of the most ardent
advocates of aid to Britain.
In any hotel lobby you can see busi-
ness executives who have come down
"for the duration" Those who haven't
yet Joined up are interested in contracts
for their particular firms. To say that
all the dollar-a-year men are working
as one harmonious family would be
slight exaggeration. They fret over red
tape and curse the confusion. But most
of them plug doggedly ahead, determined
to see their particular job through even
though It may mean an indefinite term
In Warrington.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
GERMANY PREPARES FOR u. S. ENTRY INTO WAR
Must romR Rear weoken
Bv Constantine Br0wn.

have the voting power, they have
adopted the only means at their disposal
to show their disagreement with. II
Duces policies-the sitdown strike of
the army. This explains why the Brit
ish have taken $4,000 prisoners in the
Egyptian campaign so far, while the
casualties have not exceeded 1000 men.
Many were killed by artillery fire from
distance
The German high command antici-
pates that the entry of the United States
into the war would be a signal for the
formation of that eastern front which
was advocated by the French general
staff at the outbreak of hostilities The
collapse of Poland and other considera-
tions have made this strategy possible.
The Germans did everything in their
power to take advantage of the mistakes
of the Allies, and lined up behind the
Reich most of the Balkan countries
within reach. Greece and Yugoslavia
have remained on the outside. Greece
is an active belligerent, Yugoslavia still
is free politically.
Neygdnu s Army ACTOR.
From the military point of view the
situation presents itself as follows:
The Italian Army in Africa is COM
pletely disrupted. The British Army Of
the East is pushing forward without
meeting real opposition. On the other
SIDE of the Italians. in the west, there is
a French Army under Gen. Weygand
which is estimated at about 100000
| fighting troops 1t is a professional
army, composed of Moroccan, Algerian,
Senegalese and Foreign Legion troops.
| The officers corps has few ties with the
metropolis. Most of their families live
in Africa. The men are all Africans or
men without country.
Gen. Weygand recently has been ap-
preached by British and American ennis
| SarieS who have tried to read his mind
1t was not difficult. Gen. Weygand has
spoken plainly to the men who ap-
| preached him and who proved to be
| trustworthy representatives of the two
English speaking nations. He told them
| he was the custodian of what may really
be called free France. That a real
Maginot Line, which separates African
France from the rest of the world, exists
now. The strongly religious French gen.
eral described the Mediterranean as the
line created by God. Neither tanks, nor
| airplanes, nor the heaviest artillery
could break through it. Behind that line
he was watching and preparing for any
emergency. He was determined to pre-
serve the country which had been in
trusted to him by Marshal Petain. But
should he be guaranteed a continual
flow of gasoline, oil, ammunition tanks
and airplanes. he would be willing to
talk cooperation"
He was not satisfied with promises, Of
fcial or unofficial. The collapse OF
France has made q skeptic out Of him
Evening star., 1941-01-19
HITLER'S MEDITERRANEAN THREAT TWOFOLD
-Be|sho Says Bombes Peril Sea and French Position

LONDON.-Nazi strategists have lost
nothing of their shreWdness or their
genius for surprise While the world was
wondering what action Hitler would take
to ease pressure upon Italy, and in
some quarters it was even being sug-
gested he would leave Mussolini in the
lurch, his dive bombers flew out of
British fleet.
This deft, this unexpected stroke was
significance quite independent OF the
results achieved The LuftWaffe is now
installed in a key position in the center
of the Mediterranean.
Carefully and clandestinely, ground
staffs have been assembled and are now
reported to be in excess of the numbers
required for maintenance of air squad
rons. The thOroughness and meticulous
forethought and preparation which has
characterized every German maneuver
in this war should lead us to expect
activities against British interests more
widespread and challenging than mere
sporadic bombing raids.
Supports Arguments.
Now can be seen the force Of the
argument of those who urged, from the
moment Greece was attacked, massing
all available resources to strike Italy
out of the war before Germany could
make effective any projected scheme of
aid. In particular, intensive bombing
Of Italian cities, communications, ports,
industrial plants and airdromes even at
the expense of diverting attention from
Hamburg, Leuna and Gelsenkirchen
was advocated. Had the railways which
run the whole length of the coast to
Reggie, where the crossing is made to
Sicily, been attacked with the same
persistency which was being devoted to
Wilhelmshaven, an insuperable impedi-
ment would have been interposed in the
way of transporting war material to the
new German outpost in the Mediter-
ranean.
The Greeks have now been nearly
three months in the field, and the ap-
parent lack of interest displayed by Hit
Ter during this time in the reverses of
his partner served but to mask the work
ing out of a plan of assistance. Let
there be no further illusion or wish
full thinking" about the identity of inter-
est of the totalitarian governments.
Their leaders are most successful ir
battling us when they tell the truth.
"Mein Kampf" laid bare to an incred-
ulous world the design and scope of Hit
lers aspirations. Recurrently since Italy
entered the war the Fuehrer and Duce
have protested-and once again they
have proved their solidarity. On new
Year Day Hitler affirmed: "At our side
since June last stands Fascist Italy. She
Is just as determined as we are to SEE
through this war Her struggle is oul
struggle and her hopes our hopes" .
A week late Roman declaration pro-
Evening star., 1941-01-19

He wants definite, tangible proofs OF
assistance, rather than rhetoric. Ships
containing war supplies are his price
for cooperation. The fate of European
France does not concern him particu-
larly. Gen. Weygand knows only toe
well that what is called free France is
only a temporary arrangement. He i:
not emotional. He is willing to play with
the one who can offer him the best pros
poets of a really free France.
Should the situation be changed by our
physical participation with the fleet IN
the present conflict. Gen. Weygand in
all likelihood would join forces with ths
British.
British Eastern Front.
AS far as is known here, the British
General Staff intends to form an eastern
front in the Balkans. AS long as the
British Navy is able to maintain its SUI
premacy in the Mediterranean the COM
bined French-British forces-totaling
some 100000 men-would have little
trouble crossing the water and landing
at Salonika, Patras and Piraeuo. A
Greek-British Army is already operating
in Greece.
The Yugoslav government has concen-
trated the bulk of its forces, between
100000 and 100000 men, around Bitoli,
behind the Vardar River. It is a good
army but it lacks adequate armament.
The Turks are in process of moving a
number of divisions from Anatolia to
the Chatalj alja-Edirne line-another good
army which needs modern war para
phernalia. According to military observ-
ers, an army of 100000 men could be
gathered in the Balkans before the snow
melted, to threaten Germanys rear.
The collapse of Italy has made this pos
sible. The lack of war materials makes
the operations of such huge army diff
cult. The chief advantage of this eclec-
tic force is that until the end of April
Germany will not be able to use its chief
weapons of conquest, the panzer divisions
and the airplanes.
In most military quarters it is be-
lieved that under the circumstances the
high command must attempt an In
vasion of Britain. The formation of a
Balkan front need not necessarily mean
that the war would be won in that Sec
ton of Europe. But it would greatly
relieve the pressure on England and give
the British the necessary breathing spell
to organize their offensive air strength.
Naturally all these considerations are
based on two assumptions: Cd That the
United States is prepared to become a
belligerent in the very near future by
sending a portion of the fleet to the
eastern Atlantic and (2) vast increase
in the tempo of United States production
of all kinds of war materials, from shrap-
mel and tnachine-gun ammunition to
super-tanks and flying fortresses.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Domestic Front

Major American emphasis during week
has been on pending lend-lease legisla-
tion-What it implies, how much it is
needed, etc.
Sponsored by the Democratic admin
istration and bearing Republican indorse-
ment from Wendell L. Willkie, among
others, the measure still is center of
bitter ntroversy-demonstrat most
clearly by exchange early in week be-
tween President Roosevelt and Montana S
Democratic Senator Wheeler, opposition
leader
Angered at latter's description of bill
as "the New Deals triple-A foreign pol
icy - it will plow under
Roosevelt every fourth American
vs.. Wheeler boy" President blew off,
at Tuesday press confer
ence Granting unusual privilege of
quoting him directly, Mr.. Roosevelt
Evening star., 1941-01-19

The German government fully expects
the United States to become a belligerent
in the course of the next few months
and possibly earlier. The German high
command, while discounting the posi-
bility of American armed forces being
sent to Europe, believes that part of
the United States Navy will be ordered
to the Atlantic, at first to convoy trans
ports which will carry arms, ammunition
and raw materials to beleaguered Eng
land.
That the United States will enter the
war in the near future, to save Britain
from destruction. is considered a FORE
gone conclusion in German government
circles. According to the best available
reports. the German high command in
tends to forestall this probability by
bringing Britain to her knees before it
happens. But even the most optimistic
German military circles entertain some
doubt about the ease and speed with
which Great Britain could be invaded.
AS reported last week in these columns,
all the necessary preparations are being
rushed by the German high command
at this time. The German general staff
does not intend to go lightly in this de-
cisive phase of the war, and will not risk
campaign against the British Isles
without thorough preparation
Invasion Planned Carefully.
Drawing-room strategists have argued
that if an invasion of England had been
possible it would have taken place last
summer, after the fall of France, when
Britain was far more unprepared than
she is now. Military experts who have
returned recently from Europe report
that the German high command never
intended to attack England with land
forces at that time. The Germans were
more unprepared then, for that type of
land-sea-a operation, than the British
were to meet it. Eight months of in
tense work, including the building of new
special types of planes, new airdromes
on the coasts of the conquered countries
and hundreds of small naval craft, were
the minimum required to prepare the
Reich for such an operation
The German general staff now is seri-
ousiy concerned over possibility of the
formation of an eastern front in the
rear of the German armies, if the United
States should decide to take the
plunge"
The position of Italy is much more
serious than is generally reported. Not
only are the Italian armies defeated on
all fronts, but it appears that II Duce
has little hope of rallying the nation to
put up an effective fight against the
British and the Greeks. The people of
Italy have lost all interest in the war.
They say the German-Italian alliance
is not an alliance of two nations, but
only Of two individuals-and that they
have not indorsed 1t. Since they do not
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Britain Pnnng Her Hopes Ad Fights Grm Scattered

Countering, British bombers made two
devastating visits to Wilhelmshaven,
claiming to have left "a waste of flame"
in area where slipways, docks, foundries
and gun stores were located. Second at
tack on this important German port was
declared to be 41st since beginning of
war.
At other times during week, r. A. F.
continued to pour destruction into poten-
tial invasion ports of Dunkerque, Lorient,
Calais, Boulogne and Ostend. One of
most accurately damaging of British as
Saults upon Nazi-occup;ed French coast
was staged in bright sunlight on Fri
day. German troop concentrations were
spotted and blasted during this sally,
attacking planes diving low.
Flying far, Britishers also reported
extensive damage to Porto Marghera,
one of principal Oil supply depots in Italy.
In war at sea, London announced that
first week of new year had brought ship
ping losses of only four
Torpedoed vessels and total of 1857
Shipping tons. On Friday, however,
New York received word
that two large English ships, the 10000
ton Almeda Star and 106O0-ton Zea-
landlc, had been torpedoed during pre-
vious night in same general North At
lantic area-about $50 miles northwest
of Londonderry, Ireland.
Serious game of tag was played in
South Atlantic through most of last
week as 0y000-tOn French freighter Men
doza, loaded with foodstuffs considered
contraband on British blockade lists, be-
gan voyage from Montevideo, presumably
headed for France. AS freighter cruised
slowly northward along South American
coast, British auxiliary cruiser Asturias
paced her outside territorial waters of
neutral countries.
Efforts of British to close all leaks in
blockade Of continental Europe led to
two speculative stories out of London
during week; one that steps be taken to
discourage present Russian imports of
oil and cotton from Americas on grounds
that these or their equivalents were being
shipped in turn to Germany and. two
that contraband control station might
be established in West Indies
Behind the lines, also, British repre-
sentatives renewed conversations with
Turkish officials over possible Joint action
in Balkan sphere. OF interest to OBJ
servers of Balkan situation, incidentally
was formal declaration by official Soviet
Russian news agency that Moscow gov
ernment has no knowledge and has given
no consent to movement of German
troops into Bulgaria.
Evening star., 1941-01-19

the reach of the Germans, in which ref
uge might be taken should Nazi pressure
become intolerable. That potential ave-
nue. of escape is jeopardized by the Ger
man occupation of Sicily.
Bizerta. great naval base where i'm
portant units of the French fleet are
concentrated, is brought under the
shadow of Nazi wings. Indeed Hitler
henceforth will have closer hold over
Vichy France 1t must be as much an
object of British policy now, as it was
when strong steps were taken at Oran
to prevent the French fleet from falling
under the direction of Germany.
In sum. it is a measure of Hitlers
strategical astuteness that he has with
but comparatively small expenditure
of force put himself in position to
pursue, simultaneously, several objects.
It will be less easy for Britain to use
the direct Mediterranean line of COM
munications for bringing reinforcements
to Greece and to the imperial armies in
Libya until she has put it outside the
power of Nazi bombers to menace her
conveys. Hitler has thus placed a greater
strain on British sea and air forces.
Britain Must Move Fast.
Units now at Malta will have the aug
mented duty of defense In all the grati-
tude which We are moved to render to
the different components of the empire,
let us remember always the high place
that must be given to the gallant island
ers of Malta, who have borne with such
patriotism and valor the burdens of their
geographical situation and who are now
| likely to experience the full force of this
| latest development.
Again it must be reiterated that time
| is the essence of British success against
Italy. That country should not be per-
| mitted to recover from the blows which
Greece and the imperial armies have
delivered BY spring, Germany may
have other plans afoot.
| During the whole of last winter, her
comparative quiescence was mistaken
| for incapacity. 1t was confidently
stated that she had missed her chance.
Meanwhile, her factories were grinding
out munitions, tanks, airplanes, U-boats
and E-boats, swelling the muscles of
her mechanical might.
This winter it is to be presumed she
is being no less active. More plants,
more shipyards, more labor are at her
disposal than ever before. Further, a
new Nazi-Soviet pact has been signed.
Its main purpose is to assure expanding
| resources of grain, raw materials and
oil to our enemy.
Britain still lags behind and hesitates
to organize her economy and utilize her
man power fully, Fundamentally and
| dynamically for the waging of total war
A democratic system fortunately assures
to the British people the means Of max
ins known their will. They are resolved
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Br Leslie HOre.BeHSha.

nounced: In the presence of the puerile
and absurd threats of enemy propaganda
on both sides of the ocean, the Italian
cabinet solemnly reaffirms the inflexible
loyalty of Italy to the axis pact and to
the three-poWer pact" 1t will be more
prudent in our future calculations to
assume that as long as Mussolini re-
mains in authority, no wedge can be
driven into the axis.
In choosing Sicily as a new and ad-
vanced operations base in support OF
Italy, Hitler has made straight for the
root of British strength. He recognizes
that it is sea power which enables Brit
ain to succor Greece and sea power
which makes possible the victories of
the Imperial Armies in Africa. If that
be broken or even locally held at bay, as
it was in Norway, Italy can breathe free
ly again and Nazi ambitions in the
Orient be revived.
The new move has undoubtedly opened
again for Admiral Cunningham prob
lens which in their Italian aspects he
had already solved. When Italy declared
war, the Mediterranean was virtually
closed and supply ships from the United
Kingdom to Egypt had to make the long
detour by the Cape.
With the reluctance of the Fascist
fleet to join battle and the failure OF
the Regina Aeronautica to question the
maritime ascendancy of Britain, conveys
resumed the shorter route. Since the
victory of Taranto, with growing con-
fidence and impunity, reinforcements
and equipment had been dispatched to
their destinations by way of the Medi-
terranean.
French Position Threatened.
From the Straits of Gibraltar to Alex
andria, the distance is about 1900 miles.
Some half way between, all traffic must
pass through the Sicilian Channel, which
at its narroWest, between MarSala and
Capebon in Tunis, has width of only
eight miles. Arising like rock to COM
mand the middle of the channel is the
island fortress of Pantelleria, italian air
and submarine base. The freedom with
which the Royal Navy has in recent
months negotiated the passage must be
attributable alike to British valor and
Italian discretion.
One side of the Sicilian Channel is
now in German occupation. The other
under control of the Vichy government.
Increasingly important, therefore, does
it become to make sure of the attitude
of Marshal Petain and Gen. Weygand.
1t has frequently been claimed that
French possessions on the African coast
give to the Vichy government strong
bargaining counter in their dealings with
their conquerors.
BY Withdrawing the fleet to North
Africa and taking measures to preserve
the military and political security Of this
region, it is said there is being kept open
an alternative seat Of government outside
Evening star., 1941-01-19

Presence of German air forces in this
Mediterranean sector is first concrete
demonstration of Nazi aid to hard
pressed Fascist ally; Indicates that
strategy is to weaken British fleet suf-
ficiently to permit reinforcement of Ital-
ian arms in Libya. to halt British aid
to Greece, and perhaps to force diversion
of part of Britains own defensive fleet
to permit German invasion of British
Isles.
Meanwhile, relentless empire forces in
North Africa laid siege to Tobruk, dig
ging in around coastal base while heavy
artillery poured explosives at Italian de-
fenses and navy set up blockade of
shore. Vital wells were reported par
ticular targets and Italian supply units
were forced to travel miles for water
for some defense detachments.
Overhead. R. A. F.. maintained control
of air, reporting it had rendered useless
five Italian airfields at Derna,
libyon Bomba, Gazala, Ell Timini and
Front Martuba. In addition, it
claimed damaging raids on
BengaSi, 200 miles west of Tobruk, and
reported small Italian garrison at Clara
bub Oasis to be isolated Ranging in
other dill ection, British flyers also claimed
destruction of petrol dump at Catania,
Sicily, and of nine German bombers
grounded there.
Cleaning up scattered Italian units
between Bardia and Tobruk, British re-
ported finding Blackshirt Gen. Argentine
hiding with small party in coast cave
You can have the desert" the general
offered. I'm poet"
And not making Italians in Africa any
happier was presence of Halle SelaSsie,
the Black Lion of Judah and eX-emperor
of Ethiopia, in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan,
less than 800 miles from his former
domain Visiting him in steady stream
were tribal revolutionary agents, for
whom arms and encouragement to rebel
against Italian rule were being supplied
by British.
In Albania, Fascist chieftains ordered
new shake-up in field command. relieving
Gen. Soddu, because of his health" after
two months of vain effort to halt Greek
successes
With port of Valona still principal OBJ
jective, Greeks reported greatest ad-
vances of week in direction
Greeks of Berati, north of Klisura,
Advance captured few days pre-
viOusly. On Wednesday,
Athens communique declared that Fas-
cist counterattacks had been wiped out
in Klisura area to permit improvement
of Greek positions on heights around
Tepelini, ancient fortress town that COM
mands Italian-huilt road from Klisura to
Valona.
Lending Importance to Berati is fact
that principal oil fields of Albania are
located nearby.
On Friday, Athens issued recapitula-
ton of Italian losses in Albanian cam
paign, claiming 10000 Fascist soldiers
killed or captured-believed to constitute