UNDER NAZI CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1940, Page 5

UNDER NAZI CONTROL

FRENCH AFRICAN COLONIES Planes Conveying Enemy Agents / CONSTRUCTION OF AIR AND SEA BASES DAKAR VIRTUALLY IN GERMAN HANDS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, October 3. “The Times’’ says that two new air line networks, also a trans-Mediterranean 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 whole 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 packet boats 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, has 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. Geman 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 the new Axis route. The Axis Powers have overruled the international commission, on which Britain was repre-

sented. Arms smuggling is going on on a large scale, contrary to laws of the zone. The entire Press has swung to the Axis.