Show J J. J W. W T. T MASON SAYS SAYS- Germany Will War Against Greece Only to Halt Half Italian Kalian Peace Move J J. I By J. J W. W V. V T. T MASON United Press War Expert Hitler's hesitations and conferences conferences conferences con con- concerning a military offensive In the Balkans undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly un un- un- un are due to his deep desire desire desire de de- de- de sire to bring about peace between between between be be- tween Grece and Italy without having to risk the uncertain complications complications com corn of extending the war warIn warin warin in southeastern Europe If the fuehrer does strike against Greece it can be assumed he has been forced to do so in an effort to counteract peace propaganda propaganda propaganda ganda in Italy There can be no actual military military military mili mili- tary gain to Germany by sendIng sending sending send send- ing an army through Bulgaria to attack Greece Only Italy's predicament and the urgent necessity nece necessity ne ne- ne- ne ce for keeping Italy In the war could justify Hitler in spreading the war so far afield If the Germans were to reach and the northeastern Greek coast they hey could n not nV disrupt disrupt disrupt dis dis- dis- dis rupt British power in the eastern Mediterranean The great British British British Brit Brit- ish naval base at Alexandria and the Suez canal are about miles away from northern Greece making a round trip journey of 1500 miles mlles necessary necessary for German bombers Have Nuisance Value Such raids could have only nuisance v value lue Malta is only 75 is miles mlles from Sicily It has been bombed repeatedly by Italian and German planes but without interrupting its use as asa asa asa a British naval and air base Possession of northeastern Greece might be of moderate as assistance assistance assistance as- as to the Germans if they intend to attack the Dardanelles and undertake the hazardous march of 1000 miles mUes southward through Turkey toward Suez But with the Italians in North Africa defeated so decisively it hardly can be expected that the fuehrer will risk a direct offensive offensive offen often sive against Suez by himself lf Furthermore Russia must necessarily regard any expansion of German military power in southeastern Europe with the gravest suspicion However reluctant reluctant reluctant re re- re- re Stalin may be t to challenge challenge challenge chal chal- lenge the Germans Immediately Russo-German Russo relations must automatically automatically automatically au au- au- au become worse If Hitler makes Bulgaria obedient to his will and lodges troops in northeastern Greece Would Endanger Russia With Bulgaria added to RumanIa Rumania Rumania Ru Ru- mania as subordinates of Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many the western borders of the Black sea would be in the fuehrer's control Possession of northeastern Greece would give Germany command of the western western west west- em ern opening of the Dardanelles Germany would thus hold the key to Russia's major waterway communication with the rest of the world It has always been essential to Russia that the western and southern Black sea coasts and the Dardanelles be controlled by weak powers German possession of the western Black sea littoral and especially of the western exit from the Dardanelles into the Mediterranean must make Germany the enemy of Russia however much the fact be disguised disguised disguised dis dis- dis- dis guised by Russia's present weak weak- ness Such a situation would be comparable comparable com corn parable to American reactions to German occupation of the southern shores of the Caribbean sea and the approaches to the Panama canal Only Russia is in no immediate position to fight for her rights and presumably would have to bide her time It is not to Germanys Germany's Interest Interest Interest Inter Inter- est to take action in the Balkans so certaIn to give 4 RussIa Hitler's conf cOnflict Offense the British empire Is distracting without future troubles that might volve Russia when the wit pressure is more keenly fi felt Celt the reich IWU The fuehrer well ai this fact which has been beeS t reason why he has Ib from assisting Italy aga Greece to the present time IT ii nii British victories In AfrIca h hi W ever have produced new concerning Italian j m ale So Hitler finds himself i fa in IiIi present predicament It iTA j ij could persuade Athens to o sent to a negotiated peace would be very much to his bli a vantage If the Greeks ref refS Si peace at this time the situa must become extremely un unto for the fuehrer JI a Germany has no national terest to serve by defeating it Greeks other than keeping th axis from front racking cracking in jw Germany has much to lose Jose ose BO by Increasing StaI po l suspicions of the oI Teutonic military power ar n the borders of Russia Russia's line communication with the ife A crisis in the Bal Ba M kans is thus a crisis for C q many |