IN THE NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 303, 30 September 1940, Page 8

IN THE NEWS

DAKAR AND SENEGAL.

NOW IMPORTANT PLACES. STRATEGIC VALUE OUTLINED. The return of Dakar to the news and the possibility that Senegal may be added to the list of colonies which are continuing the struggle against Germany and Italy make information about this part of Africa of special interest.

Dakar is the capital and seaport of Senegal, ancl easily the most important of the ports in this part of the world. A glance at the map will show what a commanding position is held by the town on the route between Western Aurope and Brazil and South Africa. It is on the Gitlf of Goree, on the eastern side of the peninsula of Cape Verde, that is to say, it stands at the most westerly part of Africa, and thus on the shortest route to South America.

Dakar, consequently, has international significance of the first rank. It is not only a capital naval base, hut it is the spot from which any attack on North and South America would naturally be launched. The French were quick to appreciate its importance and they have developed it not only as a port but as a base for naval operations! “A Safe Anchorage. Dakar is the only port of Senegal which affords safe anchorage for the largest ships. Consequently it has long been used as a coaling station by tjhe Messageries Maritimes Company, and as a regular port of call by other French lines and by such British shipping companies as the Elder Dempster firm, which has bad a. trade between Liverpool and West African ports. There has also been an Italian line in service there. The traffic of the port (inward and outward) lias been round about 1,000,000 tons a year.

Dakar is, for the most part, a place of broad and regular streets, with a number of fine public buildings, including the palace of the GovernorGeneral, a good water supply, and a fairly healthy climate. The harbour is now about 36 years old and is formed of a number of jetties, one of 6000 ft and another of about 2000 ft, the entrance being 720 ft wide. There are commercial docks with over 7000 ft of quay accommodation, and ships drawing 26ft are able to moor at the quayside. The naval accommodation is also ample. There is a naval dock and arsenal, with a torpedo-boat basin 755 feet by 410 feet, and a dry dock 650 feet by 92 feet. There is also extensive warehouse accommodation and enlargement of the port has been pushed ahead in the past ten years. The population of the place has been in the vicinity of >35,000. Dakar was originally a dependency of Goree and was founded 78 years ago, one year after the declaration of a French protectorate over the mainland. The port "was opened for commerce five years later, and in 1885 its importance was greatly increased by the completion of a railway to St. Louis. Dakar was placed in direct communication with the countries of the Upper Senegal and Middle Niger by the railway from Tines to Kayes, which joins the St. Louis-Dakar line. This was finished 17 years ago, and brings the Niger within two days of the port. An Enormous Area. The total area of Senegal is 74,000 square miles and its population is about 1,750,000. It is administered under the colonial system—that is to say, by a Governor assisted by a Colonial Council. West Africa, however, includes Senegal and French Sudan, French Guinea and the Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Niger and Mauretania. They cover 1,800,000 square miles and hold 15,000,000 people. The exports of all these places, of which Senegal is much the most important totalled 1,500,000,000 francs in 1937 and their imports that year were valued at 1,690,000,000 francs. In 1937 vessels of total tonnage of 13,000,000 entered or cleared thenports. Senegal is a place with sandy soil. However, there are fairly large flocks, in 1938 there were 600,000 sheep and goats, 400,000 cattle, and 34,000 horses The natives cultivate ground-nuts, of which they produced 'in 1939 660,000 tons, and which are the colony’s thief export by volume. They also grow millet, maize, some rice, castor beans, coconuts, gum, rubber and salt. In 1938 the imports were valued ' at 1,016,000,000 francs and the exports 708,000,000 francs. The exports were, in part, from the French Sudan, which is not to be confused with the Anglo- ■ Egyptian Sudan, from which it is divided bv many miles.

All these things will mean quite considerable gains for the Free France' movement, if and when Dakar is brought over to its side. Britain and France will gain a new naval base, the North and South Americas, which contemplate this region with misgiving, will have fresh reason to feel the need of an Allied victory over the Axis and the Germans will he denied the use of what conceivably might he 0 useful place of supply for submarines. The possession of this territory by France is the result of a treaty with Britain early tin's century, after French expeditions had penetrated to the Niger and had carried on armed conquest of the country for more than fifteen years. One of the ports on the River Gambia (Yarbatenda) which made the Senegal colony more accessible, was obtained from Britain in 1904.

The military strength of the region is uncertain. Almost certainly there will he some native troops; there are also the crews of the French warships there and the garrison at Dakar where there are naval guns mounted to protect the port.