Show U. U S. S Army Publication Tells Story Behind West East-West Fight Over Berlin Everyone in America is watching the conflict between east and west over BerLin Berlin Berlin Ber Ber- lin but f few w understand just what is back of this Berlin fight and why it is of such vital importance One of the best explanations we have read of the whole Germany Berlin-Germany crisis is given in a recent issue of of Armed Forces Talk a publication the United States arm army for use in discussions discussions discussions dis dis- dis- dis among army personnel The publication explains first that we e are in Berlin as a result of a wartime wartime wartime war war- time agreement among the victorious allies which agreement divided German Germany Germany Ger Ger- man many into occupation zones and also Berlin the German capital The Berlin struggle is just a part of the whole struggle for political control of Germany Germany and and the struggle for Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many is merely part of the struggle for control of Europe and finally the world Berlin is not important therefore for itself but because it is the first step for Russia in a series of moves aimed at ultimate world control Armed Forces Talk explains this succinctly succinctly succinctly suc suc- in the following Given control of all of Germany the Soviet Union might soon have all of Europe For as ase we e have seen in the Ruhr valley of western Germany are the largest coal coalmines coalmines coalmines mines and steel mills in western Eu Eu- rope The Ruhr is the industrial key to western Europe Ruhr coal is used not only in Germany but in France Belgium Holland and even in Italy With possession of Germanys Germany's coal and steel production production not not to mention the incalculable industrial know-how know of the Germans the Germans the Soviet Union already a strong industrial power ver in its own right would be in a position to challenge the world Russia has another string to her Berlin blockade bow Even if she is not successful in winning control of Europe by her Berlin blockade pressure she hopes to accomplish her ends indirectly indirectly indirectly indi indi- by economic pressure Lenin once said that communism feeds on broken peoples and peoples and consequently consequently consequently conse conse- it is Russian policy to keep things unsettled and disorganized as much as possible throughout Europe That is why Russia opposes the European European European Euro Euro- Recovery plan That is why Rus Rus- sian-directed sian Communists constantly foment strikes and unrest in France and other countries where the Communists are in positions of power That is why Russia persistently refuses to reach any kind kind- of settlement on Germany and dodges settling the pre present ent conflict over Berlin Comm Communism thrives on broken peoples and communism is attempting to thrive ive on a broken impoverished Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many and Europe The Russian policy of obstruction has still another objective to objective to wear down the western powers The longer Germany can be kept in economic doldrums doldrums doldrums dol dol- drums says Talk the greater the likelihood likelihood likelihood like like- of starvation disorder and disease The western allies if faced with these misfortunes in their zones might get tired of struggling Public opinion in the United States might resent resent resent re re- re- re sent the continued outlay of money for forthe forthe forthe the support of western Germany We Ve might get out of the country where country where whereupon upon the Red army might well wen get in for keeps That's a good explanation of the background of the Berlin fight It is isa isa isa a story which should be understood by American civilians a as well wen as American soldiers because the present cold war warin in Germany is being fought with dollars dollars dollars dol dol- lars and diplomacy ra rather ther than with bullets and bombers It is the kind of a war in which the understanding support of the American people is of the utmost importance if this country is to come out on top r |