ACTIVITY AT DAKAR

Evening Star, Issue 24331, 21 October 1942, Page 3

ACTIVITY AT DAKAR

GARRISON BEING HEAVILY REINFORCED

VICHY APPREHENSIVE (Rec. 10.15 a. 111.) LONDON, October 20. Recent reinforcements, including naval units, have increased Dakar’s white garrison from 15,000 to 50,000, says the British United Press correspondent at Vichy’s stronghold. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen Jam tho streets,’while women and children are leaving tho 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 Gorman mind may compel ns to co-operate with the British in seizing Dakar, which is even more important since Brazil entered tho war. It could

serve as a jumping-off place for planes operating against our South American ally.” The journal adds: “Vichy is apprehensive that the United States will seize the French Caribbean territories. They have reason for their fear. Negotiations with the Governor-General of those territories have not been concluded, and doubtless the prolonged delay in meeting our demands will cause us to act.” Washington observers point out that unless the Americans intend to remain in Liberia as a protective policy, the only place they could go by land would be across French soil. The London ‘ Times ’ diplomatic correspondent says the talk of an Allied advance on Dakar is ridiculous, because communications between jungle-clad Liberia and the remainder of Africa hardly exist.

FRENCH WEST AFRICA

ANGLO-AMERICAN ATTACK EXPECTED

(British Official Wireless.)

(Bee. 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 20. The Berlin radio, quoting a well-in-formed neutral, who has recently arrived in Lisbon after a long visit to Africa, said it was expected in the British African colonies that a British and American attack against French West Africa would take place some time after the end of October, which was the beginning of the dry season, and the road linking the west coast with Egypt would shortly be completed.

MIDDLE EAST THEATRE

ENEMY SHIPPING BOMBED

INCREASED AIR ACTIVITY OVER BATTLE AREA (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.)’ RUGBY, Oct, 20. A Cairo communique states: Apart from patrol activity there was nothing to report from our land forces yesterday. Night fighters on Sunday night successfully attacked an enemy train at El Dalba and the landing grounds at Fuka. Our heavy medium bombers raided Tobruk, and claim hits on enemy ships. The same night our torpedocarrying aircraft scored a hit ou the stem of an enemy merchantman near Pantellaria Island. The vessel was left sinking. There was an increase in air operations over the battle area yesterday. Our bombers, lighter-bombers, and fighters were all active. Fires were started on enemy landing grounds. In subsequent air combats a number of\ enemy aircraft were damaged.

RECAPTURE OF BURMA

ALLIED GENERALS CONFER

NEW YORK, October 19. The Chungking correspondent of the United Press of America says General Lo Choying, commander of the Chinese expeditionary forces in India, is participating in important conferences in New Delhi with Generals J. Stillwell, Sir Claude Auchinleck, andl Sir Archibald Wavell. The conferences are believed to be connected with Allied plans for the recapture of Burma, to which the Japanese are reported to have transferred an undetermined number of troops from Malaya.

ORDERED TO WITHDRAW

DUTCH TROOPS IN JUTLAND

(Rec. 10.20 a.m.)

LONDON, October 20. The 1 Daily Mail’s ’ Stockholm correspondent says the German authorities have ordered all Dutch troops to withdraw from Jutland by mid-Novem-ber.

CHAINING OF PRISONERS

(Roc. 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20. Berlin radio, quoting German officials on the chaining of prisoners, said the British had so far given no reason why the German measures should bo withdrawn.

By special arrangement, Reuter’s World Service, in addition to other special sources of information, is used in the compilation of the overseas intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved.

REVENGE AND CRUELTY

FACTOR IN JAPANESE PSYCHOLOGY

(Rec. 11.10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 20,

The Japanese threats to execute captured American airmen is, according to a Washington official, primarily intended to bolster Japanese morale. Officials point out that revenge and cruelty 'have always been an important factor in Japanese psychology.

COLLABORATION WITH GERMANY

LAVAL'S THEME SONG

(Rec. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20. Two trains full of workers left Paris for Germany, and a third group left Bordeaux, says the Vichy radio. Laval, appealing for more workers to go to Germany, said: “The Germans are suffering heavy losses. I am not sure you realise the true situation. France’s overriding interests demand a policy of collaboration with Germany. The agreement 1 made with Germany had a certain measure of effect, but since yesterday I have been obliged to take other measures, which Prance must accept.” 4 The new inducement offered to workers going to Germany is the promise that they will be insured against accident, whether by ordinary causes or British bombing. Previously they were told they would have to take their chance in air raids.

AUSTRALIAN WAR PRODUCTION

SYDNEY; October 20,

Australian tank production has increased a hundredfold during the past year, the Attorney-General (Dr H. V. Evatt) stated to-day. There were now 96 times as many tanks in Australia as there were six or seven months ago, he said, while aircraft strength had also increased enormously. Emphasising the spate of Australia’s war effort, Dr Evatt said there were few fronts 6u which Australians were not fighting. One small contingent of the A.L.F. had even been fighting in distant China.

An essential part of the war effort, Dr Evatt said, was to plan for the post-war period. “ There must be no repetition of chaos, anarchy, and broken promises that followed the last war,” he added. “ Australia must look to the time when 1,500,000 men taken out of war occupations are to be reabsorbed in normal civilian life.”

AUSTRALIAN WAGE INCREASES

MELBOURNE, October 19

Basic wage increases of 3s a week for Melbourne, 2s for Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, and Is for Hobart have been granted, and null operate next month. The. increases have been granted because of the rise in the cost of living. The new weekly basic wage rates will be as follows: Sydney and Melbourne £4 17s, Adelaide £4 13s, Brisbane £4 11s, Hobart £4 12s.