Evening star., 1941-02-27
BY MAJ GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT,

In the Valhalla of departed war
riors there is certainly little extra
difference being paid these days to
the shade of Gen. Karl Won Clause
witz Never have events brought
more complete vindication to any
theory than to his views on the
essentially political nature of war
with the appearance of the tightly
integrated totalitarian state and the
Hitlerian conception of total war"
1t has indeed become impossible
to separate political from military
considerations in many instances.
The weight of political factors must
be assessed before accurate military
judgments can be attained, and the
full use Of political weapons must
always be considered in connection
with any estimate of a military sit
uation.
The examples now before us fully
illustrate this point. To take a
minor one first-we have as As
sociated Press dispatch reporting
the arrival at Saigon of a French
transport carrying a contingent of
army, navy and air force officers "to
bolster the defenSes of French
1ndo-China" This transport is
stated to have come from Dakar,
French West Africa, a port under
the control of Gen. Weygand. On
the straight military basis. one
would say that Gen. Weygand,
anxious about the safety of Indo-
China under japanese pressure, is
trying to build up the defense estab-
lshment there, and is sending Off
GERS to enable more native troops
to be raised and to increase the
efficiency of the existing force. But
1t Is not as simple as that these
days.
The transport comes from Dakar,
where De Gaullist elements have
recently been suppressed. Are these
De Gaullist officers who have thus
been gotten out Of Weygand's way
in Africa? If so, then Weygand Is
playing a smart game. because De
Gaullist officers in Indo-China will
certainly be anti-Japanese, may in
deed bring about a complete change
In the complexion of affairs in that
colony. Weygand, a Frenchman be-
fore all else, may we'll consider that
the ultimate interests of France
would thus be we'll served.
Purpose Is Mystery.
WiShful thinking therefore in
clines the American commentator
to view so hopeful both as re-
CARDS the future of French North
Africa and the Far Eastern situa-
tlon. 1t comedies neatly with the
apparent anxiety of the japanese
Foreign Office to ease the tension in
the Far East. But unfortunately
there is another possibility. One
recalls the sudden arrival of the
French warshipS at Dakar and the
result thereof in the thwarting of
De Gaulle's attempted coup at that
port. 1t is quite possible that this
mysterious transport is bearing a
similar cargo-oficers charged with
cooperation with Japan, sent out at
~ANAAAAoAA 44AoAoOSA1IC DO Vi
German pressure on vichy.
II Weygand has a hand in the
matter he may have consoled him.
self by the thought that Indo-C China
Is far away, that its ultimate fate is
dependent on what happens in
Europe, and that by getting rid of
pro-German and pro-Laval officers
he is strengthening his own posi-
tion in Africa, which he of course
considers of far more Importance
than Indo-China. The conclusion
like so many other conclusions these
days-can only be, wait and see.
Then take the Balkan situation.
Here the basic military element is
determinable, The German object is
to pacify the Balkans. keep them
available as source of supply, and
avoid being drawn into a dangerous
war on two fronts. The British OBJ