A BACKGROUND O THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 110, 3 February 1941, Page 6

A BACKGROUND O THE WAR

Hitler’s Forebodings THE WAR AT SEA Un the eighth anniversary of his accession to power, “Corporal” Hitler last week revealed to the German nation in particular and to the world iu general, that he now fully realizes what another "little corporal” learned more than a century ago. It was through the exercise of Iter sea-power that Great Britain finally overthrew Napoleon ami ills dictatorship in Europe, it was Trafalgar in 1805 that made possible Waterloo in 1815. It was Napoleon who complained that the British Navy upset all bis plans and that, wherever he turned, he was sure to find the British Fleet in his way. It is Hitler who is finding that out today. Napoleon And Hitler Napoleon, the world dictator of his time, once held down far more of Europe than Ilitler controls today, and with the further difference that he appeared far more assured of his control. Britain then stood alone in the battle for freedom as she stands today in Europe; but there is an important difference in her situation. Today she is supported by a united and powerful overseas Empire with vast resources in men and material. In Napoleon’s time, Great Britain had the inglorious experience of her emigrant communities in North America seceding from her rule by force of arms and openly assisting her enemies. Today she is receiving the immense moral and material aid of the United States, the mighty nation that her sea-power originally planted and protected in infancy; Ilitler sees all this and he is worried and afraid —hence his hysterical outburst. Since the overthrow of the countries of Western Europe seven or eight months ago, Hitler has had time to study the workings of British seapower, especially in relation to the affairs of his junior partner in the Axis and in the building up of Britain’s strength at sea, in the air and on land. He is far less certain of himself today and is becoming increasingly uneasyregarding the immediate future. The Battle of the Nile had the decisive effect of destroying Napoleon’s communications between France and his army in Egypt, with the natural result’of the failure of bis enterprise. During the last six months the British Fleet, based on Alexandria close by Aboukir Bay, has held effective command of the Mediterranean and made possible the spectacular victories of Britain’s Army of the Nile in Africa and the Greek Army iu Albania. The rapid disintegration of Italy’s overseas empire is the direct result of the wise and vigorous exercise of British sea-power. Germany’s Prospects

Hitler’s horizon is everywhere indistinct, but that is not to say that Germany has not in prospect some great and skilfully plan of campaign in the very near future. There is much talk of a mighty attempt at invasion of Britain, and it may well be that Hitler will attempt it. But tlrn Strait of Dover, the English Channel and the North Sea are all vastly wider than the River Meuse or the Albert Canal. Britain’s strategy today is unencumbered by the political susceptibilities of the Allies in whose countries her army was fighting during the first half of last year. Her Navy, Air Force and Army are all immensely more powerful than they were in the middle of last year. Britain is now in an increasingly favourable position to resist and defeat any German attempt at invasion and every week that passes improves her position—and Hitler knows it. The recent outbursts of Hitler ami Admiral Raeder indicate that iu Germany all is not well, and in Italy and the occupied countries even less so. Across the oceans the enemy’s horizon is murky anidark. The rapidly rising tide of American production of planes and ships and war material, backed b.v the soon-to-be signed and sealed authority for the utmost aid to Britain, will come to flood this year. From Canada too, supplies of material and men are swelling the Atlantic flood that is rolling against Germany. Sea-Borne Traffic

In the North Atlantic, Raeder’s Üboats are trying in vain to stem the flood of Britain’s sea-bourne traffic. Iler Imports last year were the highest for more than 10 years and her exports the highest since 1934. In the outer oceans a few German raiders are carrying ou a furtive campaign against Britain'*-sea-bourne trade with results that have little more than a “nuisance value.’ Except in the Baltic and close along (he western shores of Europe, scarcely a German merchant ship is moving today.

The measure of the immense flo"’ of supplies by sea to Britain is the measure of Germany’s growing lack ot essential war supplies. Her invasion of Scandinavia and the Low Countries, her occupation of France and the entry of Italy into the war Immensely reinforced Britain’s blockade of Germany. AVhat might have flowed through those countries formerly neutral has been reduced to a mere trickle. If not a few drips. The occupied countries have been looted and can yield no more. Take the problem of oil supplies alone. Germany today is dependent upon her reserve stocks, what her heavily-battered oil refineries can produce and what she can draw from Rumania and the goodwill of Russia. On the other hand, the supplies of the whole world outside Europe are freely available to Great Britain. A great fleet of hundreds of tankers, British. American. Dutch, Norwegian and Danish, is continuously transporting vast quantities of fuel oil, lubricating oil and motor-spirit across the seas to tain or wherever else it is needed. And ns with oil, so it is with all the war requirements of Britain. Sea Ways Open

Never since the start of the war 17 months ago has Germany, or Italy, been able to prevent the passage across the seas of British troops and supplies. AVorld-famous liners, among them Britain’s best and greatest as well as those of her Allies, are moving freely across wide oceans carrying safely thousands of troops. Many great liners in this war have appeared in ports far other than those to which they were built to trade in peace time. It is one of the modern miracles of British sea-power, as it is one of the tragedies of war, that we find hundreds of foreign ships working in the service of Great Britain manned by seamen whose countries have been overrun by Nazi hordes and who for long months have known little or nothing of their families, much less the owners who formerly employed them. Lake their British brethren, vtfth whom they share tlie sure hope of final victory, these seamen are not afraid of and will not be deterred by Hitler’s hoarse threats of intensified U-boat warfare. Ships on the sea will beatjiim yet.—(S.D.W.)