MOROCCAN COAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24408, 20 September 1940, Page 5

MOROCCAN COAST

FORCES STRENGTHENED BRITAIN UNDER SUSPICION WORK OF NAZI AGENTS LONDON, Sept. 18. (Received Sept. 19, at f p.m.) The Times says: “ Various reports indicate that the situation in French Morocco is deteriorating. There is a shortage of everything. Only minor details of administration can be settled locally, and questions of major policy are referred to Vichy, which means the Wiesbaden Armistice Tribunal. Vichy propaganda, under Italian and German inspiration, aims to prove that Britain alone is going to starve the French Jews and Moors. “ The position in Spanish Morocco corresponds to the position in Spain. Spain does not want war, and' is afraid of inter.-al trouble. Spanish officers suspect the British or their allies of intending to land in Morocco with the object of securing the southern shores of the Straits of Gibraltar. German propagandists are fostering this suspicion, a result of which larger forces of metropolitan troops have been transferred to Morocco gunpcsts to cover practically the entire coast. “A curious situation has arisen in Spain. It is understood that Moroccan regulars (combined Spanish and Moorish troops in the Spanish Army) have been transferred, to Spain. Some of them have been sent to Asturias, which has never been completely pacified. Moorish troops are also believed to be stationed in the Badajoz region. Recruiting has reopened in Morocco for native troops, partly to avoid complaints of unemployment and food shortage among the Riffs. The Gestapo is already operating in French Morocco and also to a lesser degree in Spanish Morocco.” .

The correspondent of The Times on the German frontier states that Senor Suner, interviewed after his talks with Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop, declared: “Spain is only temporarily non-belligerent. General Franco personally will decide when to abandon aloofness.” Germany is making much of Senor Suner’s visit, which it is declared, coincides with Germany’s final settlement with Britain. The Voelkischer Beobachter stated that Spain has taken up a position .which leaves no doubt concerning. her foreign aims, It is reported that Senor Suner is going to Rome to confer with Signor Mussolini and Count Ciano.