NAZI PENETRATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1941, Page 6

NAZI PENETRATION

AERIAL ACTIVITY IN SOUTH AMERICA AUTHORITIES APPREHENSIVE SOME DISTURBING ASPECTS. The United States Government must go in for large-scale subsidisation of American air lines in Latin America if it is to offset Nazi aerial penetration there, according to opinion based upon the latest official reports from south of the Caribbean, states a stag. correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor.” These reports, indicating that Ger-man-owned and dominated air lines still are strong in many parts of South America, are causing increased concern in Washington, particularly in regard to the safety of the Panama Canal. Officials believe that most of South America, apprehensive over German “fifth column” activities at home and

abroad, gladly would substitute either American or native air lines for those now run openly or covertly from Germany. ' It is recognised, however, that no South American country has the trained personnel or the ready cash to transform its airline services and that the initiative and capital must come from the United States.

Reports compiled by American observers throughout South America show that the Germans, unlike the French, Dutch, and Italians who were badly hit by war dislocation, have been affected by it only to a minor degree and that the German aerial network in South American is so strongly buttressed and interwoven that not only has it continued to operate successfully but that its directors are completing plans for large-scale expansion. At present, American or Americanafi'iliated air lines cover approximately 28,000 miles throughout Latin America. Against this Germany operates roughly 18,000, while Italian companies account for somewhat less than 2500 miles.

Although the United States is far in the lead in total mileage, authorities do not believe the figures tell the eneastern Peru. It is pointed out that ample, that a considerable portion of American milcage is in Centra. 1 America and in the West Indies and that whereas American air lines cover the perimiter of South America. German air lines are particularly strong in the strategic central and eastern sections.

Walter Peck, chief of the Civil Aeronautics Administration's Research Division, declares, the Germans are making strenuous efforts to push their air lines up the western coast of South America and through the untamed regions of Western Brazil and Northeastern Pru. It is pointed out that both of these efforts would permit German penetration of regions where secret air bases might be established, and which could then menace the Panama Canal,

While some Gorman linos in South America are ostensibly under the registry of the nation in which they operate or have a certain number of national or naturalised personnel, the great majority of them are described as under the effective domination if not control either of Nazis or of those sympathetic to Nazism. An outstanding feature of many German-dominated airlines in South America is that they operate over territory that could not support them by the wildest stretch of imagination, and that they grant ticket reductions to influential and key citizens in such numbers that it appears obvious to many observers to talk about Nazi run with any thought of profit or even at self-sustentation.

At the same , time these lines —as well as the less important Italian ones —have fought nearly every effort of the South American countries to bring them under national control or even to enforce certain elementary safety regulations. This has increased the disinclination of various South American governments to lake about. Nazi and Fascist aviation activities within their countries.

Both Brazil and Argentina arc taking steps to substitute native pilots for those of foreign birth and allegiance. Tlie former is already proceeding with

its substitution programme where pilots are available, while the latter is studying a plan to train 5.000 Argentine pilots who could serve in the Army as well as with the airlines. American aviation lines are expanding their schedules and routes Io some extent in South America.