The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-12-29


impressive TO maintain the $
without being called into actio
Although the European conflict
has not spread TO this area, allied
officers emphasize its stragetic
importance.
The French inundated Syria, at
the eastern end of the Mediterran-
can, could serve as a base for mill
tary actions, which might be neces-
sary to preserve allied control Of
the Suez canal. 1t also could serve
as base for possible actions in
the Balkans or for movements to
protect allied colonial interests.
STARTED MOVE EARLY
Therefore, many thousands Of
troops have been concentrated into
a most powerful colonial army In
this area. The French hope this
display Of force and knowledge
that these troops are ready to
move on a minutes notice will pre-
serve peace in southeastern Europe
and the Near East.
Early in the war France started
moving to Syria troops which could
be spared from North African
colonial camps and other African
defense positions. Almost over
night great, new modern army
camp sprang up in the sands Of
Syria.
One Of Frances most able gen.
erals and an expert on Near East
ern strategy, Gen. Maxine Wey-
gand, who now is retired from
active service at II, supervised
creation Of this troop pool.
ALL EMPIRE SENDS MEN
Censorship restrictions prevent
mention of specific units and
places, but 1t now is possible to
confirm that it includes troops
from all Of Frances colonial en-
pire and from all her most famous
colonial regiments, including the
Foreign Legion.
There are Algerian, Moroccan
and Tunisian colonial troops or
tirailleurs. There are Algerian and
Moroccan spahis. with their high
strung Arab horses. There are elite
regiments of zouaves, big, black
Senegalese infantry, Malgash in
fantry from Madagascar, and An
NANTES, Tonkinese and Indo-
Chinese from the great colony to
the east.
And there are French colonial
regiments, which rival the Legion
in their records.
MAKE MILITARY CAMP
Syria and Lebanon are a mill
tary camp which extends from the
Turkish to the Palestine border.
All branches Of the army-infantry,
cavalry, artillery, aviation and en-
gineers-are represented.
With such forces, French mill
tary officials are confident they
can protect allied interests in the
near east. OF specific interest are
the two great pipelines, one French
and the other British, which carry
oil from the Mosul fields in Ash
attic Turkey westward to the
French port of Beirut and the
British port Of Haifa.
Likewise in Europe, French mil
itary leaders have made extensive
defense preparations in addition
to the Maginot line.
A quiet, 300-mile white front"
extends from the southern extrem-
ity of the Maginot line opposite
the gap of Belfort to the Mediter-
ranean. High in the snow covered
Jura mountains and the Alps,
where frontiers are drawn across
glaciers and inaccessible rocks, a
French army is stretched along
the borders Of two neutral coun-
tries-Switzerland and Italy.
This army so far has not fired
shot, but its mission is vital.
1t protects France against any sur
prise thrust if Hitler ever attempts
TO turn the Maginot line by send
ing German troops through a nett
trail corridor, as some French
sources say they believe likely.
SNOW NO BARRIER
History has shown that snow
and ice, which fill the Jura and
Alpine passes, are no barrier to
first operations. took his entire
army across the Alps and dragged
his cannon through Saint Bernard
pass, to fall upon unsuspeeting
Italians in Lombardy and the
Piedmont plains.
Hannibal in 21s B. c. crossed
the Alps by way of the Mount
Genevre passes with his elephant
cavalry, and battled the Romans
in the lowlsnd.
The Alps today are held on the
French side by permanent fort