Saturday,
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
April 26, 1941.
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"TELEGRAPH” SATURDAY FEATURE
BEHIND THE HEADLINES
By John Blunt
* ☆
It is encouraging to ponder man problem had not even made over the fact that Hitler has its appearance. Lying schemer completely failed in one very im- that he is, he undoubtedly did portant Intention-and that is delude us, but precious little con- his original idea of smashing solation can he derive now. the British Empire within a fow months of the start of his war. Decadent Britain (as represent-
The German war machine is, ed, of course, by the British of course, very powerful, and Isles) was to be crushed beyond for a time it must be expected recognition very early in his to inflict very considerable dam- orgy of destruction. The date age in whichever part of Europo when he promised to enter it may operate. Its measure is, London is so far back as to be however, being gradually taken, forgotten. His promised dis- and the recent ovents in Greece integration of the British Em- demonstrate that it is forced to pire has failed gloriously to pay a heavy price for every yard oventuate, and in spite of his of territory it now invades. planes, mines and submarines, To have held it for so long is Britain still rules the waves, a wonderful tribute to the ton- What a long time ago it is that acity and fighting qualities of he bousted of his magnetle the Australians, New Zealanders, mines!
and other British troops, who
The magnitude of his failure have borne the brunt of the as- becomes the more apparent when sault by the never ending masses it is remembered that for years of German mechanised divisions, before the war started, he backed by wave after wave of secretly propared a war machine German planes.
which was intended to conquer The stand made by Greece, the world in his own good time, and the assistance rendered in As soon as he had amassed the that stand by British forces, greatest collection of war equip may well go down in history as ment ever known; as soon as his the beginning of Hitler's fall. It army could be counted in terms is obvious that the price paid will of millions; as soon as his agents have been heavy, but losses are had undermined the constitu- inevitable in warfare of such tions of many neighbouring ferocity and speed. countries he launched his great and bloody adventure.
*
*
☆
Preparations are being made for the entry of Haile Selassie into Addis Ababa, the capital of his country, stated a message this week.
CURRENT COMMENT.... By Scrutineer
The position in the Balkans is one of extreme dificulty and seriousness, I arises from the fallure of the Yugo-
the Grecks now are teaching the consolidate her military forces on the world how to die." Nn cause was ever Western front. This, however, is con- trary to the original purpose of the greater, none more glorious.
military alliance Japan signed with Germany and the Anti-Comintern Pact by which Japan was expected to en- gage Russia's attention at the back door, while Germany was Rnocking at the front,
NOT WITHOUT SETBACKS
lav people to take precautions long before the attack on them was made. It Is but another of many illustrations of litter being able to take advantage of divided counsels. Prince Paul, the The Prime Minister has never at- Regent, was for the policy of appease templed to prophesy easy victory. Far while the army and King Peter were
obedience to Germany, from it. But he does ask us to con
clder the wer us a whole. and tu for honour and Independence. Even realise that no war of such dimensions defeat in battle was for them perfer- can be without serious setbacks. The
ment and
jable to servitude
and ignominious
In this respect they found themselves In alliance with the gallant Greeks,
campaign had been arranged and as
but it was too late. As no plan of no co-operation was possible without staff talks, serious opposillon could betrayed by their leaders.
be maintained. The Serbians had been
Russia assured Turkey that she
would not put any obstacles in her
#
́TELEGRAPH“
SATURDAY
FEATURE
As each day passes, the bal- ance of power is passing to Great France crumpled miserably. Britain, and the day cannot be Belgium, Holland Denmark. No- so far distant when the German body really expected Poland or army will find itself up against other nations similarly placed to a far greater machine of war withstand his hordes for long- than its own, as Britain gains and he must have gloated over superiority in fighting and bomb- his initial successes, rubbing his ing planes, mechanical field surrender. hands as he contemplated his equipment, and all the necessary final move. His feelings were paraphernalia of modern war- doubtless
accurately . very
fare. It is only natural that we summed up in the words of should feel apprehensive con- Professor Ewald Banse, his pro- cerning our immediate losses, fessor of military science at the but the day when some degree Brunswick High School, and
of pessimism may have been author of the German Manuel of Military Science, who in 1939 justified has long passed, and wrote in his Raum und Volk im We can surely look ahead now weltkriege (given the title of to the time when, with the aid "Germany Prepare for War"): of the United States, we shall "We confess that it gives us turn the tables on Hitler, blast him and his hordes out of our path, and pleasure to meditate on the restore the independence of those destruction that must sooner or nations who shirked the challenge, later overtake this proud and and thus lost their freedom and seemingly invincible
birthrights. nation (writing of England) that to think that this country, which The blackest spot of all is the with-
Thus it came about that the brunt was last conquered in 1066, will holding of the French Navy from of the attack fell upon the British.
Britain. The great part of forces and upon the Greeks whose once again obey a foreign-the-flect remains in French-hands, successful fight against the Italians has master, or at any rate, have to
and it is incomprehensible that those won for them Imperishable fanse. resign Its rich Colonial Empire," who control It should be so sadly In the same chapter, dealing incking in, what in common portance, values, in which treaties and Docts are
In with England, Banse went on we term
There are, of course, free French-signed one day with such great cere- to say: "The truth is, no men who, animated by the love for many and cynically are disregarded the next, it is heartening_to, contemplate doubt, that a foreign nation, their country, desire to join shoulder- the heroism of the Greeks in thele be its skin light or dark, to-shoulder with their Ally who stood determination to defend their honour can only be held down by the by them in the last wart but there and their independence. They have are millions of others who have lost written history in letters of gold these. mailed fist and only kept steadily the right they once possessed to call past six months, and nothing Germany ur Italy can do will ever deprive them at work by compulsion."
themselves men. This, mark you, in 1933, when centuries to come, the descen- of this great distinction. Hitler was trying to delude us french feel to British ports now, as that of Greece has been magnificent. dants of those who could take the Italy's conduct has been as despleable that he had no territorial aims, and yet fail to realise their duty, will "As the great Greek philosophers of the At that time, the Sudetan Ger- have to bow their heads in shame. past have taught the world how to live, unable
way if Turkey thought it necessary to war will be won or lost over Britain defend her borders. This was in ac- and in the Atlantic; nothing can alter cordance with the Russian policy of that fact. In "Meln Kampf (page non-interference with any nation that 279, Hurst and Blackett's coition) this
But Turkey felt is what Hitler says: wishes to go to war, she could not successfully engage in a campaign to hold back the Germans from Thrace, though doubtless she would defend her own territories if
For
*
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they were invaded,
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The latest pact seems to suggest that Japan need no longer discharge this duty, for Germany who is now in a
position to deal with Russia without her aid, but she wants Japan to turn south and become involved in a naval campaign with Britain, the United States and the Netherlands East Indies. GERMAN PLANNED
N.E.I. COUP
The talks between the Japanese and Dutch authorities are to be resumed in Batavia, and Germany naturally hopes they will prove abortive,
Germany assigns the Dutch Islands to the Japanese, but it is interesting to learn that her original Intention was to seize them for herself, According to the American Journal, the Nation on May 11 last year a coup d'etat was planned.
There was always a considerable
"The British nation wil therefore be considered as the most valuable ally in the world as long as it can number of Germans in Java, but when be counted upon to show that the war started there was a consider- brutality and tenacity in its govern- able influx of business men and con- ment, as well as in the spirit of the lar oMcials from other parts. Some in the ad- enables it to Germons held key posts broad masses, which carry through to victory any strug- ministration and hind contacts with the discontented elements, The stage has gic that it once enters upon, TIO matter how long such a struggle may been carefully set and important mem- last or however great the sacrifice hers of the Dutch community had been that-may-be-necessary, or whatever invited to a garden parly by Baron the means that have to be employed: yon Plessen, a genial product of "Ox- and all this even though the actual ford, who speaks English perfectly. military equipment at hand may be utterly inadequate when compared
with that of other nations"
ECONOMIC STATE
OF BALKANS
It would be interesting to know how much the economic situation in the Balkans has contributed to the present upheaval there, and how for it is likely to affect Germany In the future. Ger- of her exclusion from the markets of many moved in this direction because the world. These nations, small and
to withstand Axis pressure, were compeled to enter the barter ring and supply what Germany wanted in the way of wheat, fat, cattle and ofl, and take in return something they did not want such as cameras, typewriters and aspirin, or else they had to pile up credits in Berlin..
In these days there were neither scent typists nor headaches to ab. sorb these productions, and 50 the blocked marks accumulated. It wag then proposed to build really big public works such us bridges, rouds, factories. electric power stations and so on. This involved German supervision and a further German hold In Rumanin. Yugoslavia and Hungary. Add to this the racial differences of Slay, Magyar und Rumanian, then religious differen- ces of Western na Eastern Orthodox church and the Muslim church, bitter hatreds and jealousidu of a political nature, and the setting is perfect for the advance of the German panzer columna,
In contrast with Leso divisions among theso small nations, we have the singleness of purpose, and the splendid unity of the British Empire, backed by the incomparable financial and indus- trial resources of the United States whoso President has definitely declared that a Dictator's peace will not be tolerated by his country, These are the factors which must ultimately mako for victory,
MATSUOKA RETURNS
The return of the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr Matsuoka, with the Soviet- Japanese pact in his pocket, has led to
Intensification of the blockade against China. Released from anxiety on account of the Manchurian border. Japan can transfer troops further south and prosecute the war mors vigorously. At the same time, Russla continues to send supplies Info China, Soma say that China is being penalised for her allack on the Fourth Roule Army while Japan in being rewarded for her con- sistent opposition to Communism both in Japan and In China.
Russia then is encrificing her political position in the Far East in order to
I
This gentleman had the reputation white in Pelping of being definitely anti-Nazi, and it was suggested that his transfer to a minor post in Columbo was the penalty of his political intran- sigeance.
It was all part of the game. From here he went to Java and entertained the Dutch. With his right hand he greeted them, and with his left he was prepared to stab them with the dagger he concealed.
technique of treachery mukes one literally sick.
The
WENT WRONG
The curtain was to go up when the signal arrived from Berlin, and the coup d'etat was to synchronise with the invasion of Holland. The mesange did arrive. but fortunately 4 shrewd subordinate in the General Post Office held it up in the absence of his chief. As a. cliplomatic
code it message in should have been sent on to the Ger- man consulate, but when three messen- gers one after the other arrived from
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the German headquarters this omeini COSMETIC SHOPPE
thought he should ask the military to look into it. They did. The decoded message was the order to strike, and there was a statement from the Fuchrer that he expected to be informed of the fact that the Dutch East Indies were in possession of the Germans just as Holland would be in his possession in a few hours,
This startling Information led to the arrest of every German within two hours, after which the Governor General informed his
people t Holland had been invaded by the Germans,
At least one carefully laid selieme of the Germans has gone wrong, ald that a very important one.
It would be interesting to have com- ments of the Japanese on this revela- tion, which proves quite conclusively that the Germans last year did not regard the Dutch East Indies as being within the scope of the New Order of East Asia,
FATE OF SMALL NATIONS
With Greece now practically "out of the war and her galiant king in exilo in Crete, the whole brunt of the night- ing falls on the British Empire. The war so for has proved that the small nations cannot survive as Independent states, but this fact was recognised when the Treaty of Versailles WAB signed. The League of Nations was to be their guarantor, but the refusal of certain sinles. to co-operate, and the withdrawal of Germany, Italy and Japan, meant that the world which had been organised for peace was at the mercy of those nationa which had organised for war.
The Germans, over ready to become alaves themselves, rendered their state
excesively strong Unity and external discipline imposed by the Nazi party
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was more than a match for the demo- cratic states which prized Individual liberty, and preferred butter to guns.
Germany is then the militarily strong slave nation which obtains compensa. tion by enslaving the smaller states.
This unwholesome polley, upon which Germany has acted and won her way, will not be liquidated for generaliória, Just as bad money drives out good, so Hier has succeeded in countries like Norway, Denmark and Holland bo- cause these people could not bellove that much cold calculated evil could really exist. They were the victims of their own bellef in human decency, How could the Norwegians ever be.. lieve that the children they had nourished In the time of Germany's dis-} tress would come back ng woldiers and murder them?
Nothing can excuse this behaviour, and nothing can ever obliterate the memory of witch treachery. No wonder the Germana cannot bear the look of contempt, hatred and deflones in the eyes of the Dulch and Norweglana.
And how can a German or an Italian ever meet a Greek lo future years and not read in his eyes the judgment of als nation's infamy and treachery, That will never be eradicated.
It is not only military enslavement then which follows German control, there in the terrible moral debasement which has come about and from th tho world will Buffer for many generations.
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