Mcallen Daily Press

Today's War Moves
(Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.)
By J. W. T. MASON
United Press War Expert

Assassination of a German army officer in Bucharest, described in dispatches from Berlin, may be one more indication of developing resentments in Europe against Adolf Hitler's new order. It is to be expected that opposition to the German occupationists will increase as the Axis hope of victory fades.

Violence against the Germans in Bucharest can be interpreted as representing the gradual spread of convictions in the Balkans that the totalitarian dictators are losing their grip. In other German occupied areas of the continent a like belief is beginning to be revealed.

Announcement was made only a few days ago that heavy penalties had been devised by the Germans to try to suppress Anti-Nazi movements in Holland. There have been many acts of sabotage and propaganda in recent weeks among the Dutch who are growing bolder in their nationalistic conduct.

Norwegians, too, are showing some resistance to German action within their country. Pro-Nazi Norwegian leaders are meeting with domestic opposition and are being called traitors.

It is not merely a coincidence that simultaneously with such evidences of growing antagonism against the totalitarians in the occupied territories firmer resistance to German pressure should show itself elsewhere.

Bulgarian and Jugoslavia have proven by their attitudes toward Germany that they do not believe a Nazi victory is in the making. Otherwise, neither country would have had the temerity to express publicly its resolve to keep away from the Axis bloc.

The same is true of the attitude of the French government. Marshal Petain shows by indirection that his present policy is not based on conviction of totalitarian success in the war.

The Marshal's "reconciliation" with Pierre Laval does not imply that he has surrendered anew to the Germans. Any such interpretation misses the major fact in the case.

The French government spokesman at Vichy, explaining the meeting between the Marshal and Laval, stated yesterday that "it must be perfectly understood that our fleet will not be used against our former allies, just as it must be understood we will continue to safeguard our empire." This declaration is the first public rebuke to German designs that has come from Vichy.

The significance of the statement cannot be lost on Berlin. Whatever kind of reconciliation may have occurred between the old Marshal and Laval, there is no reason for believing Germany has obtained a victory.

Marshal Petain has taken advantage of the incident even to rebuff the Germans. Not only has his spokesman openly promised that the French fleet shall not be used against Britain but he has also warned the totalitarians to keep away from the French empire, where General Weygand controls a large French army.

The Marshal is willing to cooperate with the Germans within the area of continental France, but that is all. Such cooperation has small meaning.

To do otherwise, while a million German troops are in occupied France, would scarcely be good strategy. Cooperation, however, is limited to simple domestic matters, which can have no effect on the outcome of the war.