Imperial Valley press., 1944-03-22
BALKANS AGAIN ENTER
PICTURE IN HOSTILITlES

becoming Jne local point IN the war. IN
centuries of warfare this slice of south
eastern Europe, one way or another. has
occupied that position. Directly and in
directly they have been the cradle OF
wars Few, if any, observers expected
this war to end without the old Balkan
turmoil
Russia was forcing the issues in its
headlong drive against the Germans and
as Red armies neared the Balkan borders
When dispatches tell of Stalins troops
crossing into BesSarabia, it meant in real
ity entering Rumania as the Soviet lays
claim to Bessarabia as part of its do
main.
Now that Hitler has dropped his mask
and occupied Hungary, the Balkan pot
indeed is boiling. And Ankara insists that
the Germans are also in Rumania. And
so it appears the final issue will be
fought out between Russia and Germany
in the Balkans. Obviously Hitler seized
Hungary as his last stand grounds
against the Soviets. Since he started
his murderous stalking of Europe by
invading the Czechs. it NAV be fitting
that he reach his end in the Balkans,
But the Fuehrer will not have clear
sailing in Hungary. He met open re-
sistance from the Horthy regime. such
dS III WAS, anu lldu W uIdll SOult DSllel
pro-nazis to set up his puppet govern
ment in Budapest In the meantime Hor-
thy and his colleagues are somewhere in
Germany" Hitler may be able to pro-
long his defeat at the hands of the Rus
slams by going into Hungary. but few
observers concede him much added time.
Indeed, most of the observers figure Stall
in has mis- eyes on Berlin and will bore
on through. Hungary, of course, is duo
for batterng and Rumana. too. unless
the war picture moves fast in other sec
tions. An early victory for the allies in
Italv and a real invasion from the west
could save both Hungary and Rumania
a beating.
The sudden changes in the picture
servo to emphasize the stern necessity
for proper and adequate handling of the
Balkans in anv peace treat. And this
becomes all the more complicating as
Russia moves farther west in her victor
ious strides.
One of the most promising things for
the peace nact would be quick and COM
petc finishing off Of Germany.
Let's hope the Jap spies in Fire are
mixing up their messages with their own
language and Gaelic. That would stump
the naZis.
So far there is no wild rush to adopt
the basic English fad. In fact there does
MT seem to be any "basic" to it. Not even
a start.
Ever notice how keen these research
bureaus are on advising us how it would
be easy to feed the rest of the world If
we only learn how to tuck in our own
belts and eat less? That's not hard to fig
ure out, but these super-minds either
don't know how or refuse to figure out
a way to increase production so every
body will have plenty. And it's fair
bet the researchers get their three squares
a day.
We shall be thoroughly glad when
this expression soldiers vote is thing
of the past It's got so it appears the
country is trying to do a special favor for
the fighting men. And goodness knows
they don't want it that way. Just want
to be treated like the rest of u.s.
Lend-Lease records don't show it, but
someone surely slipped in few steam
rollers with the tanks Stain got to send
Hitlers hordes reeling back