THE GREY AZORES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1941, Page 6

THE GREY AZORES

IMPORTANCE IN BATTLE OF ATLANTIC , STRUGGLE AGAINST FORCES | OF TOTALITARIANISM. PATROLS BY UNITED STATES. Trans-Atlantic' passengers aboard the great Pan American Clipper aeroplanes tell of the beauty of the islands of the Azores—green and cool in an aquamarine sea, writes Joseph G. Harrison. in the “Christian Science Monitor." Lying approximately two-thirds of the way between the United States and south-western Europe, these Portuguese possessions are increasingly important in the air commerce between the New and Old Worlds. And they may soon become moreimportant still —but in a different way. With the Battle of the Atlantic growing in size and intensity it is not impossible that its backwash will eventually thunder against Wiese peaceful outposts of Europe. In Washington. London, and Berlin there is no doubt concerning the strategic importance of the Azores. Today the British lifeline runs in a great arc between the ports of eastern Canada and north-eastern United States and those of western Britain. Some 1000 miles north-west of this lifeline lies Greenland, while at approximately the same distance to the south-east lie the Azores. A line drawn between the southern tip of Greenland and the Azores cuts across this lifeline at its halfway mark. Thus, if British or American patrols in Greenland can comb the walers north of the lifeline, patrols based on the Azores could perform a similarly invaluable service in the waters to the south of it.

UNITED STATES UNITS. In fact, there are not a few naval tacticians in Washington who believe the Azores may soon prove to be far more important in the tightening struggle against totalitarianism than is Greenland, if they are not so today. They point out that Britain, in spite of its Mediterranean fleet, the strength of the fortifications at Gibraltar, and the successes in Ethiopia, may not be able to hold any part of the Mediterranean or the land surrounding it. This would bring German power to the Straits of Gibraltar, opening new possibilities not only of striking at the British North Atlantic convoys, but, also of spreading southward along the western coast of Africa. But British or American naval vessels or long-range bombers operating from the Azores would be able to keep a very forceful eye on such Nazi manoeuvres.

Already American naval units are patrolling the Atlantic at least 2000 miles from American shores, thus, in all probability, coming within gunshot of the Azores. It is obvious what a boon use of the islands would be under such circumstances and how the eyes of American naval officers must rest longingly upon the islands’ harbours, coaling facilities, and air bases. The highest officials of the Navy Department have called attention to the strategic location of the Azores in private conversations on several occasions recently, with the plain implication that the islands would be of the utmost benefit to whichever side was able to use them. Furthermore, it is known that the navy has evolved complete plans for the utilisation of the Azores if this country enters the war. And while these are plans that any competent naval board of strategy would have in hand in case of need, nevertheless, they underline the islands’ importance. CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. It is also reported that the navy’s plans involve the additional use of Portugal’s Cape Verde Islands, some 400 miles off the westernmost bulge of Africa, and of Dakar, the Vichycontrolled port of French Senegal. These plans are looked upon here as anti-Nazi insurance, since it is axiomatic that Germany, if it felt that it needed these spots and was able to seize them, would do so at the drop of the swastika. Although it is impossible to say what the next few months may bring for the Azores, there is ample reason to believe the White House and the navy will not permit their utilisation by any hostile Power. The swift and surprising American arrangement for the protection of Greenland has been heartening to those Americans who felt the United States was not showing sufficient vigour in the face of the German threat. Many persons here hope the Greenland affair will prove a precedent and that the United States will find some way to make sure the Azores, Cape Verdes, and Dakar do not fall into German hands. Although it is recognised that the case of the first two territories is different from that of Greenland in that Portugal is still free and at peace, nevertheless, there is a growing conviction that, if the Americans or British do not step in. the Germans will and that this must be prevented by whatever means are most practicable. While small, the Azores have harbours deep enough to accommodate the largest battleships, coaling facilities, including lighters, and terrain upon which to construct airfields. There are already seaplane bases which naval aircraft could use. In a popular poem on Columbus, we read that "Behind him lay the grey Azores.” The last 450 years appear to have reversed the situation to a point where one can say that “Before the United States lie the grey Azores." What will Washington decide about them?