HIGHLIGHTS from THE CABLES

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 7

HIGHLIGHTS from THE CABLES

RUMANIA HAS HER FRONTIERS

O-INCE the arcli-Dictators, Hitler v and Stalin, ravaged and divided Poland, hidden moves on the Balkan chessboard lia\e become an incalculable factor in the future of Europe. Hitler, of course, lias always coveted the Rumanian oilfields, and is torn between two ideas, one to control the vital oil supplies, and the other to avoid smarting a general flareup in the Balkans, which might threaten Germany. He has also to consider the designs and ambitions of his curious bed-fellow. Stalin, who has a very different vision of the future of the Balkans. Whether these two tyrants with rival aims can agree on a division of any further spoils they are able to seize is one of the riddles of Europe at war. That they distrust one another is obvious, and if the Balkan States regard Stalin as the greater menace they are nevertheless far from throwing themselves into the arms of the Nazis.

Rumania, as tlie largest of all the Balkan Powers, and as a buffer State against the Soviet, naturally feels that she ife entitled to receive the assistance

ALLIES' RACE FOR AIR SUPREMACY.

ICE within the j>ast month the Nazi Air l - orce, which ,Goering not long ago described as "colossal." "terrific" and "unparalleled in the history of aviation," lias been attacked by British squadrons in • its own territory, and each attack has given Hitler and his henchmen cause to revise their opinion of the invincibility of their own aircraft. At the beginning of 1939 the strength of Germany in the air was estimated at about 300 squadrons of nine planes, each with an average of five reserve 'planes for each squadron. Half these were thought to be bomber squadrons. Reliable information showed that there were 50 aircraft factories before the war and that in these 200,000 people, a third of them women, were employed, working between 52 and CO hours a week. Monthly production was put at 800 'planes, a figure which could be increased by one-third in war time. The Allies' production on a war basis has been increased tremendously, so that

INVISIBLE NEUTRALITY HORIZON

their latest action in seeking' to declare a neutrality zone extending .100 miles from the Ameriwi coast, 20 American republics, which have ranged themselves alongside the United States, have raised some difficult questions. What would have been the position had sucli a zone been effective when the Graf Spee was at large on the high seas less than a fortnight ago? Could the raider have been allowed to hover around the 300-mile limit. Kinking British and neutral ships coming outside into the open when it suited her, and retiring within the limit when attack threatened**' L-nder such conditions a powerful enemy warship niight continue at large almost indefinitely.

In the laws of .nations there is no basis for a claim tojexercise dominion over *

of her Balkan partners in the event of any attack from the north, and if slie could be assured of this support she would probably feel independent of Germany, but there is much jealousy between _ iho partners. Hungary " awl Bulgaria cannot forget that they lost slices of their territory to build up modern Rumania after "the Great War, and Yugoslavia and Turkey have otlur interests as well as those which are purely Balkan. So, in view of all the uncertainties, Rumania has been redoubling her defence measures to enable her to make a determined stand singlehanded should she be left unaided to resist invasion. According to recent estimates 1,500,000 Rumanians are under arms, and there is feverish activity in reinforcing the country's natural defences. The frontier mountains provide a triangle of defence lines, ai-.d the river Dniester, which marks the Ruman-ian-Russian frontier, has been fortified. Hungary is being used as a pawn of Germany, and Bulgaria is apparently under the influence of both Berlin and Moscow.

it already probably exceeds the German, and is continually expanding. Britain and the Dominions have as their objective to build up a force which will be equal to any possible combination of two hostile Powers, and France is also rapidly overhauling her leeway in comparison with Germany. In addition to their own producing capacity th 6 Allies also have access to American aircraft, factories, from which large numbers of 'planes have been recently ordered. The American output is being quadrupled, and is expected to reach 1250 aeroplanes a month to meet all demands. This prolific source of production is also available.to Germany, and after what the people of the Fatherland have heard of the "successful conquests" of their Navy and U-boats they may be puzzled to learn that no 'planes have been ordered from the United States. Goebbels' propaganda experts do not mention the powerful British Navv blockade.

a wide stretch of water, and any claims made are useless unless they are enforceable. The American coastline is of tremendous extent, with innumerable hiding place for raiders. It is in the interests or neutrals, as well as of be I ligerents, that a ship like the Graf Spec, which recognised no law, should lie driven off the seas, and there should be no territorial waters into which such a vessel may escape to emerge again later to resume Her operations. If a limit of this kind were fixed for America, then Russia or any other nation with maritime interests might with equal reason claim the same right, and the oceans would become fringed with a vast region immune from attack, although there might be nothing to prevent warships crossing the imaginary line whenever and wherever they pleased.