The Waikato Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1939 NEXT MOVE AWAITED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20916, 22 September 1939, Page 6

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1939 NEXT MOVE AWAITED

Herr Hitler having delivered what he probably believes to be the funeral oration over Poland, and having admitted that his demands were far ‘‘too modest/’ he is now brought face to face with the serious issues of the war. His spectacular, high-speed conquests have ended, at least as far as the west is concerned, and he has now to meet the combined strength of France and Britain. He cannot hope to smash his way through to a quick victory, and meanwhile the pressure of the blockade is increasing steadily and internal dissension is every day making itself more apparent. France is pounding away on the Western Front and the world is waiting for the Nazi dictator’s next move.

If it is assumed that rumoured peace moves fail to materialise, the Nazis’ main line of strategy obviously must still be to strike the threatened lightning blow before the national strength is sapped by the blockade and before the discontented elements within Germany have time to reflect upon the possibilities of a dismal future and increase their opposition to the Nazi regime. It is clear that Germany will be a more efficient fighting force as long as spectacular advances can be continued, even if the sacrifice of men is heavy. Thus it can scarcely be expected that there will be long delay before the war enteis upon its second and more important phase. The massing of troops and guns on the Western Front probably presages the early beginning of large-scale operations. In these circumstances, greater anxiety is apparent in Belgium and Holland. If Germany is to attempt to smash the armies of France and Britain it would be almost suicidal to endeavour to break through the Maginot Line, admittedly the strongest extended fortification in the world. Therefore it is feared she may repeat the outrage of neutrality perpetrated in 1914 and attempt to break through Belgium or Holland, or both. Switzerland offers another possibility, although that route is not likely to be chosen because of the difficulty of the terrain. Definite undertakings have been given to respect the neutrality of Belgium and Holland, but will Herr Hitler hesitate any longer than did the Kaiser in 1914 if he sees the possibility of gaining an early advantage in the major campaign ? Yet it must not be forgotten that violation of the neutrality of the two small nations on the west would have a tremendous effect on public opinion throughout the world, and that Germany would be forging new weapons against herself. Sympathy for Belgium in the last war was a powerful factor in the defeat of Germany. But can Herr. Hitler readily contemplate settling down to a long campaign against the Maginot Line ? It is more likely that he will employ every possible diplomatic weapon to gain ascendancy over the Allied nations. There lies the most serious danger of other nations, now neutral, becoming involved in the conflict. If a plan has not already been laid it cannot be doubted that the nimble brain of the Nazi dictator is working furiously along the labyrinths of diplomatic intrigue. In that connection national reputations and physical strengths will be weighed against Germany’s prospects of smashing her way to victory, and former diplomatic alliances will be put to the real test.