FRENCH AFRICA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 308, 5 October 1940, Page 5

FRENCH AFRICA.

DENUDED BY THE AXIS. A NEW DRIVE FOR TRADE. United Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, October 4. The Tangier correspondent of “The Times” says that 20 British subjects have been arrested in French Morocco, including tho manager and senior members of the staff of the British West African Bank and leading business men. The only explanation of this selection is that the Italians and Germans desire to remove British trade influence. A German economic mission, the correspondent adds, has arrived at Casablanca. to exploit Morocco’s resources for the Axis. “The Times” says that two now airline networks and a shipping service across the Mediterranean are hurrying supplies, men, and money from the Axis countries to the surrendered French colonies in North Africa. German air services are based at. Toulouse, Alicante, Oran, Fez and Dakar, which is the pivot for the whole of the German penetration of Africa. An Italian line runs to Tunis, and another runs through the Balearic's and Cadiz 1 to Casablanca.

All the passengers are military, either uniformed officers sent to negotiate with representatives of the Vichy Government or dressed as civilians, who disappear in towns and sow propaganda by money or threats. Two shipping lines have been created in Morocco with fast French packetboats making unescorted trips between Algiers, Oran, Marseilles, Toulon and Genoa. They are too fast for submarines, and travel mostly, at night to avoid British bombers. Every ounce that can he squeezed from the reluctant and resentful North African colonics is being piled on these ships. Vichy is helpless, being forced to accept a general covering agreement by which Germany gets 60 per cent, of the wheat, fruits, wines, tobacco, and dairy produce, while Italy and France each get 20 per cent. Two steamers which recently left Syria for France were forced to discharge in Italy. The Germans virtually control Dakar. They have taken over control of the port, censorship, air lines, and overland routes and have stopped the recruiting of Senegalese riflemen. Several crack units have been disbanded. Germany’s chief activity, however, is in the building of air and sea bases. Lufthansa pilots and ground crews are already at Dakar in readiness for the opening of a trade offensive in South America. .

Brazil is the immediate target, and German agents are known to bo negotiating with a South American shipper to open a service to Dakar. Meanwhile the Italians and Spaniards are preparing the International Zone at Tangier as a vital half-way house on the new Axis route.

The Axis Powers have over-ruled the International Commission, on which Britain is represented, and arms smuggling is going on on a largo scale, contrary to the laws pf the zone. The entire press has swung to the Axis.