Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-25
BY REAR ADMIRAL CLARK III
WOODWARD, u. q. NAVY

Copyright, is4f. international News ssryie,
assertions made herein are my own. and
are not IN be construed 90 official s'
rejecting, IN any way. the views Of the
Navy department or the naval service si
Iarse.)
. Not satisfied with her mastery
of Europe, imperialistic Germany
lis now moving for world domino.
stion-surely and swiftly.
Many nations have fallen, pros.
.trate and bleeding, under the
heavy heel of the invader while
yet others. weak and impotent
bow before the ruthless tyrant
awaiting their turn.
What remains Of the once glor.
tous French republic has at last
'succumbed TO the totalitarian die
stator's terms. The Quislings al
'Vichy, after much intrigue, finally
Ghave betrayed the honor Of France
md placed at the disposal of the
Sconqueror all her facilities and her
vast and far-flung colonial pos
sessions.
Proof Of the Pudding
That Vichy's new collaboration
Is an all-the-way agreement Is
shown by the undeclared war
against British planes over Syrian
airdromes used by Nazi planes en-
route TO Iraq.
Due 10 the fact that France has
dependencies in American waters
Martinique and Qua q a loupe
West Indies), 81. Pierre and
Miquelon (off Newfoundland and
French Guiana northeast coast
OF South America German Is
now much closer 10 the United
States, and Hitler faces the west.
ern continents.
In view OF the collaboration
agreement il must be assumed,
Therefore. that Germany was
granted certain rights in these
colonial possessions which, un-
doubtedly. would be increased in
time 10 the point OF becoming a
menace 10 our security.
Hence, our participation in the
war probably would begin in the
West Indies. Without doubt the
United States Is fully prepared 10
meet such evcntuality.
Peril to Hemisphere
Should this collaboration ex.
tend German control 10 the ports
Of Casablanca French Morocco
and Dakar French West Africa
this government would take a Seri-
Gus view OF the situation. Such
hostile control would be ominous
10 our hemisphere defense.
From the point Of view OF the
American republics this Franco
German collaboration" is by all
:. odds the most serious development
I I the war, and the most serious
Nhreat TO the independence and Sc
curly Of the Western Hemisphere
since Napoleon III invaded Mexico
on the eve of the Civil War. No
one can foretell the outcome of
this decisive move.
Our greatest danger Of actual
involvement IN the present war
because Of their easy availability 10
Axis forceS--are the French bases
In West Africa, particularly. the
one at Dakar. which is one OF the
worlds key bases for command OF
the sea. II ranks with Panama.
Singapore. Gibraltar and Suez, and
outranks any OF these in its impli-
cations for domination OF South
America. 1t is most essential 10
us from hemisphere security.
Ddkor Dangerous
Dakar. being only 1850 miles
from Natal Ton the bulge" of
BRAZIL. commands the narrowest
part Of the Atlantic and is q point
from which submarines and bomb
ers may harass supply lines be-
tween North and South America
Occupied by German troops, they
could resist sea attack for a long
time. On the other hand, should
American troops be first to arrive,
they could hold out against the
Germans (unless greatly outnum-
bered) indefinitely with the sup
port OF the fieet-something which
Germany does not have available.
Dakar and French bases in the
West Indies should be taken over
ADyERTlsEMENT