The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-04-01
Observations
Balkan Time Bomb
Seems Ready to be
Exploded
BY Helen Essary

H
in what may be the blowing UP the
temporary continental empire
which Adolf Hitler chiseled out OF
Europe in four and half years OF
warfare and political intrigue.
As daily news reports tell Of Mari
military reyerses on the eastern
front. international experts look
for counterpart of the Balkan
collapse which brought an end 10
World War !. II was the withdraw
al of Germanys Balkan satellites
that played the prelude TO the term
nation of that long struggle aud
this may happen again.
Occupation of Hungary by NaLi
legions had the two-fold purpose OF
bolstering the back door" TO Ger
many and preventing Hungary from
negotiating a settlement with Sta.
lin. Now Washington expects that
Germanys move into Hungary will
be followed by similar military
movements into Rumania.
However, there is a growing feel
ing in both Washington and Lon
don that Russia may we'll sweep
these two Balkan states, oyercom-
ing Nazi resistance there and TAX
ing them out of the war altogether
thus duplicating. though in
different way, what happened in
1918.
This and success of the awaited
second front invasion Of western
Europe are the two factors on
which competent observers are
basing hopes OF an early collapse
OF the Nazi military power.
CHARGES THAT THE NAZI
GESTAPO rules German prisoners
OF war in American camps are be-
ing quietly investigated by the
Department OF Justice.
4 wave OF suicides. murder and
prison riots-all laid at the door
OF the Nazi secret police-are be-
ing closely scrutinized by J. Edgar
Hoover's Omen. The War De-
partment has conducted its own in
Vestigation, but the FBI stepped
in to double-check and congress
sional committees have been reluct-
ant to act until the Department Of
Justice completes its inquiry.
Chief barrier now 10 the segreSa-
tion OF German prisoners is the
Army's refusal to recognize that
serious political differences exist
among the German captives. The
Army says that American prison
ers in Germany are not divided
because OF political affiliations and
that German prisoners here will
not be segregated so long as their
weil-being is not impaired.
Army officers add that there is a
difficulty in the way Of separat.
ing prisoners in this country. even
IL it should be tried. Viz: prison
ers don't care to reveal their pers-
onal troubles because of fear OF
reprisals on relatives back home.
Congress, however. is expected
10 consider ways OF protecting anti
Nazi German captives in this coun-
try from the long arms OF the
dreaded Gestapo.
AIRMEN RETURNING FROM
THE PACIFIC are beginning TO
wonder whether the Japs have any
'impregnable' defenses-even in
their own land
Several Navy pilots who took
part in the raid on Truk admitted
on their return that they we're
scared to death" when ordered 70
hit Truk the first time. The Japs
had spent more than % years
building UP that bastion and Ameri-
can flyers thought It would be so
well defended that any air mission
against II would be suicidal.
Actually, the Truk raiders found
the anti-aircraft fire highly mac
curate and the defending forces
were knocked out the first day
When some OF the same carrier
force moved on toward Saipan,
the flyers wondered what they
would find. Saipan is closer to
Tokyo than Truk. Again, the Jap
defending forces we're knocked
out and United States losses were
light.
Now the question Is, have the
Japs got any powerful defense
forces-say around Palau and zap,
which are west OF Truk and quite
close TO the Philippines? Or will
they too, prove to be another
Truk?
. Army and Navy air force leaders
expect tough months of warfare
ahead, however. and are taking no
chances by Understanding the
enemy. When they move against
Japan again. they'll move with
enough power to take care OF any
thing the Nips may offer.