Evening star., 1940-06-16
Slow Nazi Infi|tration
Into Colonies and
Fleet Transfer Cited
Even the Gain Of Dukur,
African NuvoI-Air Base,
Might Be Deadly Menace
By MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.

ELlol.
The German pressure on the
French center is now developing
strength toward it's left chat is.
toward the east and is threatening
to outf1ank the Maginot Line, as
indicated by German claims of sue
cesses in the vicinity of Verdun.
1t should be pointed out that the
Maginot Line is not really line at
all, but a succession of fortified
positions, each capable of all-around
defense. Tactically, it matters very
little from what direction the at
tack may come against any particu-
lar position. save that in general
the fields of fire are better arranged
and co-ordinated in the matter of
mutual support toward the German
frontier Any of the centers of re-
slstance of the Maginot system
should be able to put up a strong
resistance against attack from any
direction.
Meanwhile, reports from the
French armies of the west indi-
cate retirement on the Loire may
be expected 1t is not clear whether
connection between these armies
and those of the Maginot Line has
been lost. But certainly the French
left flank is in the air, has lost
contact with the sea, has been
broken loose from its grip on the
Seine and must fall back across
comparatively open country. till it.
reaches the sea again near the
mouth of the Loire.
development Seems Probable.
That it can do so without being
enveloped, rolled up and flung back
behind Paris in utter confusion
seems extremely doubtful. 1t will
entirely depend on the amount and
efficiency of the British help which
is now available or may become
shortly available. There is grave
reason to question whether Britain
has in hand any very strong or very
well-equipped force with which to
bolster up this open French flank.
There are always last-ditch hopes.
Maybe the Germans have now used
up so much equipment and ammu-
milton that even riflemen and ma
chine gunners without other support
can check them
Maybe the Germans will not be
able to continue their pursuit-al-
ways the most difficult operation
of war to keep going. Maybe the
Germans will waste a lot of lives
and energy in direct prestige" at
tacks on the Maginot forts. Maybe,
somehow, from somewhere, Gen.
Weygand has been able to scrape
up something like a counter-attack
force that can dislocate some of
the German plans. But then, on
the other hand, maybe the Italian
Army, still unused, will now make
its appearance at some crucial point.
French Seem About Through.
On the face of things, the French
are Just about through. 1t is a
miracle that they have fought SO
long. under the circumstances. 1t
would be an even greater and more
wondrous miracle if they were now
able to get back to the Loire, to
maintain their line intact, and to
continue to put up organized re-
sistance against the Germans for
any length of time.
So, while taking into account the
fact that miracles have happened,
and may happen again, We will do
we'll to examine some possible con-
sequences of French defeat. I
touched on this yesterday, very gen.
orally. Today we might look at
certain concrete situations which
may affect our own country.
First, the French fleet. The new,
fast 26,000-ton battleships Dun
kerque and Strasbourg, and the new
iy completed 35000-tonner Richelieu
are believed to be in the western
Mediterranean, or on the French
Atlantic Coast. The Richelieu's
sister ship, Jean Bart, is not COM
pleted, but has been launched, and
could be towed.
Suppose part of the terms of
peace are that these ships shall be
turned over to Germany? Add them
to the four German ships under
construction, and the two already
completed, and Germany would
have a fleet of 10 new battleships
in the Atlantic Ocean. There also
are a number of cruisers, destroyers
and submarines and one aircraft
carrier, which Germany might thus
acquire. I do not say that this Is
certain; I merely point out the
possibility. And such increase in
German naval strength would be
a matter of serious concern to the
United States.
The French Colonies.
Second, the French colonies and
outlying possessions. Some OF these
are in the Western Hemisphere
notably Martinique and Guadeloupe
in the West Indies, French Guiana
on the northeast coast of South
America and Saint Pierre and
Miquelon, just south of Newfound-
land. We would, of course, refuse
to recognize any attempt by Ger
many to acquire these territories
as part of the peace with France;
just as we would oppose any attempt
by Germany to acquire the American
possessions of the Netherlands.
But Hitler has shown that he has
many ways of accomplishing his
ends. He may we'll think it not ad-
visable at this time to make any
overt attempt to hoist his flag in
the New World. But suppose he
insists on the appointment as min
lister of the colonies of some puppet
fifth columnist (alas, there are such
people in France?
Suppose that these French colo
nies continue under the French flag,
but are so administered and gov
erned as to make them in effect