INCREASED GARRISON IN DAKAR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 23, 22 October 1942, Page 5

INCREASED GARRISON IN DAKAR

Preparation For Action WOMEN AND CHILDREN DEPARTING (Received October 21, 9 p.m.) LONDON, October 20. Native troops in French Guinea are reported to be preparing defence posi-. tions along the Sierra Leone border against a possible Allied advance against Dakar from Freetown, in the south, says the Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” Observers say that a land assault against Dakar through French Guinea and Senegal would be resisted mainly by natives, who would lack tanks. Intensive training of new Senegalese battalions has been in progress in the last 18 months, and it seems fairly obvious that Marshal Petain’s recent conferences with military and naval oflicials were concerned with the defence of Dakar. Recent reinforcements, including naval units, have increased the -white garrison at Dakar from 15,000 to 50,000, says a correspondent of the British United Press at Vichy’s stronghold. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen jam the streets. Women and children are leaving the town as transports become available.

Axis propagandists have been busy for several days predicting a “second front” at'Dakar, and connect the visit of General Smuts to London with this. The American semi-official “Army and Navy Journal” says: ‘What is in the German mind may compel us to co-operate with the British in seizing Dakar, which is even more important since Brazil entered the war. It could serve as a jumping-off place for planes operating agaiifst our South American ally.”

Use of Liberia.

The journal adds: “Vichy is apprehensive that the United States will seize the French territories in the Caribbean. They have reason for their fear. Negotiations with the GovernorGeneral of those territories have not been concluded, and doubtless prolonged delay in meeting our demands will cause us tp act.” Washington observers point out that unless the Americans intend to remain in Liberia as a protective policy, the only place they could go to by land would be across French soil.

The diplomatic correspondent of the London “Tinies” says that talk of an Allied advance on Dakar is ridiculous, because communications between jungle-clad Liberia and the remainder of Africa hardly exist.

Berlin radio, quoting a well-in-formed neutral, who recently arrived in Lisbon after a long visit to Africa, said it is expected in the British African colonies that an Anglo-American attack against French West Africa will take place between the end of October and May, which is the dry season, and that a road linking up the west coast of Africa with Egypt will shortly be completed. “Several important British newspapers last week published more or less sensational reports that Axis submarines were finding facilities in French West Judies ami French West Africa or were being supplied from French ships off the African coast," says a Vichy navy communique. “The French Admiralty is not going to attempt to deny all the falsehoods which are circulating of tins nature, but, in view of the extent: of the false reports referred to, it again declares that all are without the slightest foundation."