STIR IN DAKAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1942, Page 3

STIR IN DAKAR

GARRISON HEAVILY REINFORCED

WOMEN & CHILDREN LEAVING. APPREHENSIONS OF ALLIED ACTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, October 20. Recent reinforcements, including naval units, have increased Dakar’s white garrison from 15,000 to 50,000 men, says a British United Press correspondent. At Vichy’s West African stronghold, soldiers, sailors and airmen jam the streets and 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 against our South American ally. The journal adds: “Vichy is apprehensive that the United States will seize the French Caribbean territories and they have reason for their fear. The negotiations with the Gov-ernor-General of those territories which have not been concluded, doubtless have been prolonged by delay in meeting our demands, which 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 + hey could go to by land would be aertss French soil. The London ‘Times” diplomatic correspondent says the talk of an Allied advance on Dakar is ridiculous, because communications between jungleclad Liberia and the remainder of Africa hardly exist.

EARLY ACTION

PREDICTED IN AFRICAN COLONIES. (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, October 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 is the beginning of the dry season. A road linking the West Coast with Egypt will shortly be completed.