November 19, 1939; NETHERLANDS PASSENGER LINER SANK:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1939:

Netherlands Passenger Vessel With 400

Aboard goes Down In North Sea;
British Accuse Nazis
260 SURVIVORS REACH ENGLAND
London Declares Germans Laid Explosive
On Shipping Lanes But
Did Not Inform Neutrals

LONDON, November 18----The Netherlands passenger liner  Simon Bolivar sank in the North Sea with the possible loss of 140 live, today after striking a mine, the British admiralty charged the Germans had laid without notifying neutral shipping.

The 8,000 ton vessel carried 400 passengers including women and children. A total of 200 survivors, of which 140 were said to be crew members, to be, were landed at an unnamed British port.

Many of the rescued were reported to be badly injured.

Official sources here, expressed fear that all the missing were dead.

Aside from British naval losses, it was the worst sea disaster of Europe's current war.

The heaviest loss to nonfighting ship previously was the sinking of the British line Athenia, northwest of Ireland Sept. 3 after  Britain and France declared war on Germany.

The Athenia's loss was reported at 112 persons.

SIX                             P'ORTSMOUTII TIMKS. PORTSMOUTH, OHIO           NOVEMBER 19, 1939

 

Behind Dutch-Belgian War Fears
It All Depends On The Goal As To Whether A Nozi Defeat Of Low Countries

Invasion Of The Low Countries Might Work;

Defenders Would Fall Back In Borders

IF THE Germany army attempts to flank the Maginot line by a drive through Holland and Belgium, military strategists figure the odds are at least 4 to 1 against success.

But if it Invades the low countries merely to drive a wedge part way between The French and English, and to establish air and submarine bases closer to the British Isles—the chances of succeeding, temporarily, anyway, are better than 2 to I.

About that wedging operation: Military men say the flooding of Holland's dikes would in itself offer little opposition, for the Germans would not use the flooded area unless it were frozen.

The thing that puzzles the passers of opinions on communiques is Germany's continued delay In making the war hum and sizzle. They profess to be puzzled deeply about this. They explain that the British and French arc holding back for the best of all reasons, which if that they are convinced Germany will lose, it is made to take the offensive.

What they don't explain— and what is increasingly more puzzling— is whether the Germans know they will lose if they take the offensive, and if they do know it why anyone should expect them to take the offensive.

Modern warfare isn't a mailer of hot tempers flaring forth in lethal combat, but a problem of outpointing an opponent coldly and deliberately until he loses the argument. Only stupid generals act on impulse, and no one ever has accused German militarists of being stupid.

Isn't it, then, about time the opinion passers began to dawdle with the possibility that Germany has no more intention of being stupid than the Allies?