London, May 13.
Neutral condemnation of Germany's attack on Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg is contained in a special commentary issued here today.
The "Neue Zuercher Zeitung" writes: "Germany's repetition of the well-known comedy, with its shameless reversal of roles, will deceive none: instead, the general feeling will be one of disgust at the unscrupulonsness of this manoeuvre."
The "Gothenburg Riy Tid" declares: "It seems that the Reich has adopted a standard formula for attacks on small States. We believe that Germany cannot conquer Belgium this time, and that she took a fatal step when, against the teachings of history, she tried to smash this proud people's right to live."
Mr. Ludwig Lore gives his opinion in the "New York Post"; "President Roosevelt expressed the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of the American people, when he condemned the brutal and unprovoked invasion of the Low Countries before the Pan-American Scientific Congress. He answered the question, 'Can Amer cans live if the Allies are defeated with a straightforward 'No.' Coming from a man who hates war as much as he hates Fascism, this was highly significant."
Mr. Dave Boon, well-know columnist of the "New York Sun, says: "The Nazis choose to start their blitzkrieg against Belgium in a religious season sacred to millions. Those whom the Gods would destroy they first make dictators, and the sound from heaven, as of a rushing, mighty wind, is not from Hitler's air indignation of the Reuter.
New York, May 13.
In comment headed "World Ri volutic the "New York Times' says: "Hitler now declares his aim is nothing less than the destruction of the British Empire and its allies. But if he should succeed in this tremendous project, who believes now that he would stop there?" The newspaper adds: "The world must adjust itself to this possibility, and without a moment's loss take every step necessary to vert The "New York Herald-Tribune" states: "The dim outlines of the struggle at least suggest that in a military sense the opening days have not gone badly for the democracies. But the one thing about which there is no confusion, the one fact which comes through with startling clarity hour by hour, through all the fog and smoke of war, is the loathsome, overwhelming barbarity of this assault upon peaceful peoples, this bombing and burning of great cities, the savage infliction of death agony upon the innocent, and this destruction of every civilized object in the service of brute for The article continues to analyse the alternative which Hitler had to face, namely, wait and build up a strong Lebensraum in the Balkans through diplomatic and economic pressure and import goods through Italy and Russia, meanwhile witnessing the increasing tremendous arms progress of the Allies, or to hit now with German power at its peak.
"To military evidence suggesting that a decisive attack is now beginning must be added the accumulating knowledge of Hitler's own mind and policy. It has always been his way to build up his forces for a sudden onslaught and to play with the utmost confidence for the highest stakes."
German Reserves Limited The writer goes on: "The extent of the gamble is best known to the German generals and industrialists. Information reaching London suggests that they pointed out to Hitler that their reserves, though large, are strictly limited. There appear to be steel supplies for six months on a war basis (short of total warfare which would use it up more rapidly) and rather larger supplies of some steel alloys and main base metals.
"She is short of copper and finds it almost impossible to get more, except via Vladivostok. She has a few months supply of petrol, judged on a total warfare basis, and she would find it impossible to make good any subsequent lack, "At present she can meet her needs of about 8,000,000 tons a year. But to keep up the supply of 18,000,000 to 20,000,000 tons she would need on a total warfare basis is out of question. Furthermore, for years she has tried to economize on railway maintenance. Large-scale war demands, quite apart from the effects of bombing, may overstrain the system.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.