PAUSE BEFORE GREAT BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 23379, 23 September 1939, Page 13

PAUSE BEFORE GREAT BATTLE

SIGNIFICANT STALIN STATEMENT BRITAIN PICKED AS WINNER ■ The events of the week, despite their tragic actuality, have a savour ,of comic opera, and the “ man in the street must confess himself baffled and bemused by the torrent of words ' poured over him. Nevertheless, a summary of the war situation from the angle Of this week’s developments should not dismay the Allies. It is true that Poland has been accounted for and sent the way of Belgium in the last war, but the intervention ■ of Russia there can be interpreted as something inimical to, rather than favouring, Nazi aims, and the reaction of Britain and France to the Polish debacle must sorely have disappointed the Fuhrer and his satellites; for the British Prime Minister has • indicated that Britain takes the long view, and that the fate of Poland is a card out of the pack at the moment, and of small import in the final issue. Britain remains set. in her purpose to fulfil her obligations and destroy the Nazi rule in Germany. Meantime a blow has been struck at Nazism within the Beich. A large section of the Czechs have risen against their oppressors, and, while ruthless repression will doubtless quell the uprising, the whole of this area remains forever a canker spot that will ■ require constant watching. If the hundred and one assurances and predictions given and made by former Czech leaders, now in exile, are to be believed, the revolt admitted officially by Germany, and described more adequately in- dispatches from the Ministry of Information, is the beginning of active Czecho-Slovakian resistance. But all this is a side issue. The Western Front and the British blockade are certain to be the dominant factors in this ■ as in the last war, and the French have'seized and maintained . -the initiative in the west with astonishng success and economy of man-power. They are some 15 miles within German territory over a .wide front, right under the Siegfried (German) fortifications in places, and during the' week have “ dug in ” throughout the occupied territory, even constructing concrete - •“ pill boxes.’- They are thus completely ready for the German counter-offensive that is no doubt in contemplation; and it is v. probably the intention of General Gamelin to let the Nazis spend - their strength here before the Franco-British advance is again set in motion. . This is in keeping with the allied objective of a long-range war and- the studied conservation of man-power. On the other hand Germany seeks a quick issue, for already the British naval Wi blockade is having its effect, and; a long w>afimeans a lost war to the-Nazis. -Hence springs the French forecast of another 'i raid .on' a neutral country—Holland being the prospective ' victim this time. When (and if) this occurs, the whole world fail! recognise Nazi desperation, and the end will be assured. Germany’s counter to the naval blockade—the long-range 'jsubmarine—is not likely to trouble the Allies as it did in 1917. One of the surprise packets reported to have been prepared by.the British Navy for the anti-submarine campaign is known as the “ Asdig.” It was referred to recently by the First Lord of the Admiralty during a debate in the House of Lords. This name presumably signifies ‘‘ anti-submarine detection , , indicator gear.” What it consists of and how it is operated are, ' of course, highly confidential matters. It is of comparatively recent development, and was not adopted as standard equipment till after the most searching tests. “Many experienced submarine captains, previously sceptical, have been astounded to find how ‘Asdig’ accurately ’ plotted the position and course of their craft when submerged at Varying depths,” states the naval correspondent of the London ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ “ Once a submarine’s position is known, its destruction by depth charges w'ould be all but . certain.” i