PENETRATION IN AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 9, 5 October 1940, Page 12

PENETRATION IN AFRICA

Surrendered French Colonies

AXIS POWERS MOVE Building Of Sea And Air Bases

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) Received October 4, 10.35 p.m. LONDON, October 3. “The Times” says that two new airline networks, also a transmediterranean shipping service, are hurrying supplies of 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 pivotal point of the whoie German penetration in Africa. An Italian line runs to Tunis, another through the Balearic Islands and Cadiz to Casablanca. All passengers are military, either uniformed officers sent to negotiate with representatives of the Vichy Government, or persons dressed as civilians, who disappear in towns to 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 be squeezed from reluctant, resentful North African colonies is being piled on these ships Vichy is helpless, being forced to accept the general covering agreement by which Germany gets 60 per cent, of wheat, fruits, wines, tobacco and dairy produce and Italy and France each 20 per cent.

Two steamers which recently left Syria for France were forced to discharge in Italy'. Germans virtually control Dakar. They have taken over control of the port censorship, air lines, overland routes, and have stopped the recruiting of Senegalese riflemen. Several crack units have been disbanded. Germany’s chief activity, however, lias centred in the building of air and sea bases. Lufthansa pilots and ground crews are already at Dakar, preparatory to opening a trade offensive in South America. Brazil is the immediate target. German agents are known to be negotiating with South American shippers to open a service to Dakar. Meanwhile Italians and Spaniards are preparing an international zone in Tangier as a vital half-way house on Ibe new Axis route. The Axis Powers have overruled the international commission, on which Britain was represented. Arms smuggling is going on on a large scale, contrary to laws of the zone. The entire Press has swung to the Axis.

TWENTY ARRESTS

British Subjects In French

Morocco

(Received October 4, 10 p.m.) LONDON, October 4

The Tangier correspondent of “The Times” says that 20 British subjects have been arrested in French Morocco, including the manager and senior members of the staff of the British West African Bank, also leading business men. The only explanation of this selection is the Italian-German desire to remove British trade influence.

A German economic mission arrived at Casablanca to exploit Morocco’s resources for the Axis.

GERMAN REPORT

Intended Assault On

Madagascar

LONDON, October 3. The Berlin radio Stated that Free French forces, co-operating with British warehips, are cruising in the vicinity of Madagascar, against which they are preparing an assault. There is no confirmation of the report.

VICHY ARRESTS

Property Confiscations

LONDON, October 3.

The Vichy Government announced that an undisclosed number of persons, including M. Leon Jouhaux, Sec-retary-General of the Confederation of Labour, have been arrested for attempting to undermine the Administration.

The Vichy Government has issued a decree contiscating the property of Madame Tabouis, “Pertinax” (M. Andre Geraud),M. Pierre Cot. and other prominent people.

DEMAND TO SYRIA

Internment Of Italian Airmen BEIRUT, October 3. The British Consul-General has demanded the internment of the crews of two heavy Italian bombers which were forced down in Syria during a raid on Haifa.

GOVERNOR OF FRENCH OCEANIA

(Received October 4, 9 p.m.) OTTAWA, October 3. The Governor of French Oceania, M. Degery, arrived at Vancouver from Papeete on an undisclosed official mission.