Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-15
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

"HlI III m ust 60
- That is the only recorded
and announced war aim of the
British government. What does
that mean? That, of course.
means that Germany must be
crushed and defeated on the
continent of Europe.
Mr.. Walter Lippmann, who
makes more effort than any
commentator l know painstak-
ingly TO study his authorities
and to run his conclusions back
to their ultimate roots in his
tory. surveys the triumphs of
British sea power and concludes
that since. in his view. sea power
is the ultimate answer. Britain
is supreme and Hitler is doomed.
Mr.. Charles Beard has per-
suasively challenged the histori-
cal accuracy of A d m i r ]
Mahan's thesis. The record of
the centuries also challenges it.
If it is determinative, we would
not be a nation. Hannibal and
Alexander the Great would
never have been mentioned and
Ghengis Khan would have no
place in history.
THERE is no question that sea
L power is necessity for
modern imperialism - for de-
Tense against il, which itself is
a kind of counter-imperialism.
But to say that sea power can
control the strength or move
ment of great masses on land
is silly.
1t is true that ours and the
British economic sea war stran-
gled Germany in 1918. But not
alone. A military pressure on
land, equal and finally superior
to hers. was necessary.
And we, who had been re-
peatedly told - just as Mr..
Churchill says today-that all
we would ever be asked for
would be ships and goods. were
finally desperately called upon
for men in their understands"
And we sent them to the tune
of 2,000.000-more than the
British ever devoted to this i'm
notation in France.
Nov Mr.. Churchill says-Mr.
~ Willkie says-correcting an
earlier slip of the tongue by Mr..
Churchill, that we shall not be
asked to send men. Horse
feathers! 1t is quite true that.
at this phase. ships. conveys. the
stripping of our one-ocean navy
wholly inadequate for a two
ocean war, are all that Britain
needs to defend the isles of
Britain.
If the defense of those isles
means the defeat of the Germans
and the destruction of Hitlerism
in Europe. then it is true that
Britain needs no American
troops at this moment. But the
repulse of Hitler on the channel
is not the defeat of Hitler and
Hitlerism in Europe.
That defense of Britain can be
accomplished without American
troops. But the defeat of Hitler
ism on the continent of Europe
cannot. and the representation
of any authority to the contrary
is false.
MOREOVER. if our true OBJ
IV1 ject is the defeat of Hitler
ism on the continent. and our
true belief is that Britain. once
secure in defense of her island
and her empire by her sea
power. aided by ours. will not
attempt a land attack across
the Rhine without our aid. we
are the greatest zanies and
suckers since the good Lord in
His infinite judgment created
Simple Simon.
We can defend Britain by aid
ing her. We cannot achieve her
aims without joining her.
On the high seas we have
decided interest. In the interplay
of European politics we have
none whatever AS this. column
has too frequently repeated for
its own good. Look down. look
down that lonesome road before
you travel on.
Who speaks for America?
tDist. by United Feature Syndicate. Incl