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RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current Events (By Kickshaws.) Well, personally, our views on the control of wild life depend entirely on whether it refers to bird, beast or just late parties. * « We often wondered what Hitler was going to do with those Black Guards, ami now we suppose they are all in Norway. » » • Allied supplies of timber, it is stated, are assured. We doubt, moreover, if Hitler is out of the wood. * * V Important developments by various powerful neutrals, it is claimed, depend, upon the result of operations started in Norway. This is correct, but the recent situation in no way cancels the outlook previously held by certain neutrals. The most important developments will probably centre around the attitude of Italy and Japan. Their reactions to any new situation must be considered as an extension of their present policies taking into consideration various factors that have recently developed. There is a tendency to imagine that Britain and France at the moment are hard pressed. There has been a series of exaggerated reports emanating from German sources regarding the operations in Norway. The real truth, of course, is that the Norwegian operation has placed Hitler and his gang in a somewhat delicate situation. The plans have gone astray, and if one only knew it, probably the wisest course from the German viewpoint would be to get well rid of a situation that may have unforeseen repercussions. * » « In estimating the reactions of powerful neutrals to any new situation, one must first of all assess the situation from the point of view of Germany. It is becoming more and more certain that if Hitler wants to make a bid for victory he must do so this summer. Time is still against him. It is uncertain what the temper of the German nation would be after another winter. Slowly but surely vast supplies of manpower and materials are being amassed against him. His submarine campaign has proved a failure. His claim that the aeroplane has made a navy obsolete has been proved incorrect. His efforts to starve Britain have failed. His supplies of petrol and oil are precarious. His iron ore supplies are cut, and he is forced to eat into a reserve which cannot last for ever. The health of his people has deteriorated badly. His main asset is an untouched army with steam up. In fact, Germany at the moment is like a boiler pressed to bursting point, but with uncertain supplies of fuel to last much longer.

The general situation as regards Italy and the war has been such that a condition of non-belligerency has been forced on Mussolini. Certainly, that state has not been produced by Hitler. One can only assume that internal pressure has caused him to hold his hand. One may, in fact, assume that Mussolini, if he had his way, would be prepared to commit the Italian nation to war. It is significant that on at least three occasions when Mussolini’s policy has run counter to the traditional policy of Italy, as accepted by the Italian Royal Family, the last-named has won. On at least two occasions the situation has reached a stage where further action by Mussolini would have meant civil war. Ti e forces against Mussolini had actual y moved their pieces with that end In view. One may assume that today tl e King of Italy would strongly disappiw e of declaring war on Britain. Whether his disapproval would go so far as to take stronger action calculated to cause civil strife can only be implied by what is now fact.

It is probable that as a result ofthe conflicting internal forces operating iu Italy a compromise will result. Neither Mussolini, the Throne, nor the Church would be anxious to involve the Italian nation in a civil war at a time when unity was most desirable. Nevertheless, it is impossible to imagine the Church condoning Italian intervention on the side of a dictator to whom has been addressed on more than one occasion steru Papal reproofs. One. might assume almost for certain that if anything happened concerning which all three would hold similar views some sort of action would be certain. One might say that any action on the part of Germany which threatened the safety of the Adriatic would unite all three' points of view and make possible instant action. Even an invasion of Hungary might cause this actiou. It is therefore by no means uncertain that Italy may not take action very shortly to acquire control of Yugoslavia. It is, however, unreasonable to assume that Italy will throw in her lot with Germany at the present juncture. <1 » »

The Pacific situation centres round Japan. At least, Japan has made the first move, which may have been dictated not by aggressive intents, but out of fear. Japan has been involved in a long, dreary and costly war with China. She has depended largely on supplies from the East Indies. Indeed, there has been a political party in power directly interested in controlling the ’"South Seas.” A Japanese periodical has appeared, dealing exclusively with that area. If no other Powers were interested in that area there is little doubt that Japanese interest would cuter a possessive stage. One must not forget, however, that the United States of America is also directly interested in this aspect of Japanese control. Apart from the trade aspect of the Dutch East Indies, Japanese possession of that area would provide her navy with much-needed oil supplies. That would be a direct threat to the American navy; especially to her naval position in Hie Pacific. Japan, however, lias been economically weakened by a long land war. Unless she could act without creating retaliation from America it is probable that action will be deferred. Nevertheless, from the American point of view the situation has entered the phase where action may have to implement words. The world is overwrought with "faits accomplis."

“R.M.” Writes:—!. Could any man dive under the middie of “Queen Mary” and come up (lie other side - ? 2. M hat is the breadth of same siiip at the centre of hull? 3. What is the longest lime on record that a man has stayed under the water and to what depth has man dived in sea water?” Yes, it would be possible, especially to a man trained to dive for pearls. The maximum depth tor a pearl diver witli no artificial help is about 50-60 feet. There are records of a man staving under water in a tank for about six minutes. The greatest depth a man has dived in sea water wearing a normal diving suit and supplied with air in the normal way Is ISO foot. 'With special suits and other apparatus a depth of about 400 feet has been reached. The “Queen Mary” is 118 feet wide.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19400420.2.60

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 176, 20 April 1940, Page 10

Word Count
1,141

RANDOM NOTES Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 176, 20 April 1940, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 176, 20 April 1940, Page 10

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