Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.
———
"Hitler is a genius. But he’s crazy. The man’s off balance. And he can’t be swerved. He’s got the youth of the country in the palm of his hand."
So Harold K.L. Castle, Kaneohe kennel squire, summed up today impressions of Europe gained in recent weeks. He returned from there last Sunday.
"England?
England is scared stiff. Her nerve is shot. She’s jittery. She used to pride herself on her navy and felt secure behind it. Now that security is gone.
"They are scared stiff of Hitler and know that with his air force he can skip over the fleet and wreck them."
Mr. Castle came home by clipper to be with his mother, Mrs. James B. Castle, who had been hurt in a fall. …
While in London they visited their daughter and son in law, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon McIntosh. Mr. Castle visited the house of commons… and talked with industrial leaders.
London, Mr. Castle pointed out, is about as far from Germany as Hilo is from Honolulu. … In Germany, Mr. Castle said, … "I was immediately aware of an organization which has never been surpassed. Everything is organized. There is a discipline which is awe inspiring.
"I’d hate to live in Europe. And although I admire in some respects what Hitler has done I’d never submit to the buckling down the Germans are doing. That cold blooded efficiency based on dictatorial methods," said Mr. Castle, with a fond glance at the gentle green slopes of Kahanaiki, his windward Oahu estate, "doesn’t fit my plan of living …
"The young people (in Germany) who know nothing of the terrors of war are all for Hitler. The old people give him lip service. But they are skeptical. One can see that." …
And then Mr. Castle got into his favorite topic — dogs. The purpose of his trip to London was to judge at the world famous Cruft’s dog show. He is the first American to judge German shepherds there.
"There were 10,000 entries at Cruft’s," he said. "And, frankly, I think we’ve some dogs here in Hawaii that would stand up with the best I saw there. I don’t want to brag about my kennel but I’ve got some Great Danes and German shepherds I’d like to bench there."
