DESIGNS-ON AFRICA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 191, 15 July 1941, Page 6

DESIGNS-ON AFRICA

j NEXT MOVE BY AXIS. (United Press. Association —Copyright) (Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 14. General Rommel's African army, comprising two German Panzer divisions, three mechanised divisions, and 13 Italian divisions, at present has insufficient suitablo material for tho daring inland southward drive against Egypt which tho Gorman High Command planned, says tho Daily Telegraph's correspondent in North Africa. Tile Germans are awaiting more material, which is still slipping across the Mediterranean from Sicily to Tripoli. Losses of enemy supply ships are estimated at 25 per cent, and are rising. | Tho Germans are very interested in ! the construction of a road which the French are pushing on between Col-omb-Bechar (Algeria), and the Niger River. The Germans demand that tins route must bo usable by September. This seems impossible, but the demand indicates the importance which tho Germans attach to effectively tapping "West African tungsten, oil, rubber, and cotton. The Dailv Express, quoting a neutral authority from Marseilles, says 00,000 French metropolitan troops have been shipped to Morocco with the object of helping General AVeygand's armv to meet possible American action against French Africa. The ports of Marseilles, VilleFranchc and Port Yendre have been i closed to the public for the last two weeks. The entire aviation baso at Clermont-Ferrand, including planes, repair equipment, and mechanics, has been shipped to Morocco.