UNREST 1N FRENCH NORTHERN AFRICA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 225, 21 September 1940, Page 9

UNREST 1N FRENCH NORTHERN AFRICA.

AXIS MANOEUVRE? British Official Circles Suspect Reports. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 20. While it is true that there is considerable opposition in French North Africa to tiie Vichy Government, stories emanating largely from German and Italian sources stressing the likelihood of revolt in Morocco in favour of General de Gaulle arc regarded with suspicion in official circles in London.

Their object is believed to be to influence Spain to make a move. Allegations that Britain is fomenting trouble in Morocco are without foundation.

Reports which reached Madrid from Morocco, says an earlier message, indicate that there is tense expectancy throughout French North Africa, where a decision to accept an offer of British protection is expected any day.

According to the Madrid correspondent of the "Daily Express," General Yerget, the newly appointed French Resident-General in North Africa., is having great difficulty in handling the situation. Wholesale arrests have been made of Army otliccre and civil servants. Apparently the arrests have been carried out reluctantly, in the face of popular opposition and widespread sympathy for General do Gaulle.

It is officially announced from the headquarters in Britain of the French Free Forces, says tho official wireless, that tho former commander of the Ist Zouaves at Casablanca, who was previously commander of a sub-division at Tetuan, has arrived in England and placed himself at the disposal of General de Gaulle.

More news of unrest comes from the strongholds of France's Syrian Army, says the Cairo correspondent of "The Times." The Italian agents at the three divisional headquarters have been instructed to take an inventory of the French Army equipment.

Although this is an obvious prelude to the dismantling and seizure of guns, tanks, ammunition, lorries and aeroplanes, the two senior French delegates on the Armistice Commission have consented. The junior officers and men, however, are resisting.

French regular troops at the chief training ba.se are taking rifles to tlieir touts at night, and straji<rers, official and otherwise, are being oridered from the camp. There are similar happenings at a ba.se Where the Italians are trying to secure modern Glen Martin bombers.

The crews of two French submarines at Beyrout arc stubbornly staying on board, where they are grimly awaiting the moment when they will be asked to como off. Syrian soldiers at the camp of the Camel Corps near Damascus are refusing to give up their camels. Ammunition is reported to have been buried in the mountains.

The situation is setting a delicate and dangerous problem for the Italian agents who are endeavouring to rot the -tench Army from within. The Italians fear resistance as well as sabotage.

The attitude of the French soldier can be summed up in the words: "We have guns; what are. you going to do about it*;" The Syrians say: "France is only a mandatory Power here. She has no right to hand ue over to Italy."