Evening star., 1942-12-13
Time and Blockade
Work Against Germans
By OUen L. Scott.

matte success, has not gone as well as
expected for the Urited States and
Britain. The expectation had been that
Italy might be out of the war by Christ
mas, that control of the Mediterranean
quickly would pass to our side and that
HitlerS African armies, unable to CD
tain reinforcement, quickly would be
destroyed
1t appears not to be working out that
way. The reason seems to be that
Hitler, instead of hitting back at the
American-British offensive by a blow
aimed through Spain or Turkey, actually
did his hitting through Italy The re-
suit is delay in realizing the full victory
that We had expected There now may
have to be much hard fighting before
the Mediterranean passes to us and be-
fore Italy stages the sit-down strike that
is expected of her.
Even so. there is agreement here that
Hitler and his brand-new European en-
pire are doomed. Hitler lost the war in
Russia during 1912 when he failed to
break out Of Europe. His chance for
Cooped up in Europe the most that the
Germans can Iook forward to is a
steadily declining strength in the face of
rising strength on the part of their
enemies.
A glance at the Hitler empire explains
why this is SO and why there is not more
official concern over the delay in realiz-
ing complete success in Africa.
The new German empire, economically,
is unable to stand lons on its own feet.
1t contains more than 350,0OOO 900 people.
1t has vast industrial resources. 1t IS
backed by armies such as the world never
before has seen. Yet the foundation of
that empire is built on sand. Its weak
nesses are as follows:
In food the German empire for all of
its size, is not sufficient. 1t can
supply barely 80 per cent OF the food re-
quired to maintain its population and
that food is poorly balanced with an
acute shortage of fats Moreover, the
American invasion of North Africa shut
off the German supply of phoSphates
which are vital for the fertilizer needed
to maintain even the present volume of
food production.
In flbers the German empire is even
weaker Little wool Is produced in the
area held by Hitler. Almost no cotton
is produced. Hitler dreamed Of nation
clothed in goods made Of wood flbers,
but he found In Russia that these clothes
are not adequate.
In fuels, the position of Hitlers en-
pire Is very difficult It possesses abun-
dant coal but transport problems make
difficult a proper distribution of that
coal. 1t possesses totally inadequate
supply of Oil. Unless Hitler can control
the Black Sea and the Eastern Medl-
terranean he will be unable to solve his
oil problem even If he should reach Rus
sias rich oil fields in l943. His land
transport, already cracking under the
strain, is inadequate to carry oil on
large quantities to Germany.
In metals the Hitler empire is equally
deficient. That empire possesses ade-
quate supplies of iron ore and its steel
output is moderately large. There IS
Hitler has less than one-tenth of the
copper available to us and he has access
to almost none of the alloy metals that
now are so important.
In rubber, Hitler is far worse off than
the United States. In vegetable oils it
is the same story. All of this explains
why the Germans had to break out of
70 ri, tD y,
They have been living upon stockpiles
of materials built up at home and con-
quered from the other peoples Of Europe.
Now that those stockpiles are becoming
exhausted, replacement is impossible
The result is that the new German en-
pire faces the prospect Of gradual eco
nomic disintegration so long as our side
is able to maintain its blockade
The political outlook for this Hitler
empire is no better than the economic
outlook
Of the 350000,0O0 people over which
! Hitler holds power, not more than 30
900 900 are even passively content. Those
are the Germans themselves and there is
evidence that even they are far from sat-
isfied with their present lot or with the
type of empire they are supposed to
rule. The French people are discon-
tented if not rebelliouS. The same is
true of the Italians, the Dutch, the Co.
1000 Russians in conquered areas, the
Poles and the NorWegians.
Hitlers empire in consequence is an
empire that requires whole armies to
| keep it together. It's working popula-
ton is highly inefficient Its whole base
rests upon type of slavery that never
has yielded effective results
The military outlook for this German
empire is not much brighter than its
economic or political outlook
Hitler still has the world most power
full army. 1t is doubtful whether any
opponent could get far with fronta
| smash against that army if its full force
| could be brought to bear in defense
! However, Htler's very success as con-
| queror may prove his downfall As his
armies have famed out they have gained
! territory that must be defended. TODAY
those armies must protect nearly 9,oot
miles of potential front against which
an enemy might strike.
Furthermore. Hitler possesses no navy
of consequence to keep an enemy from
the shores of his empire. His once all.
| powerful air force now is rivaled by 6
British air force equally or almost equally
as strong. 1t soon must meet an Ameri.
can air force that will be far stronger
than any he can hope to have. This