Evening star., 1941-08-26
BeIqions and French in Africa
Observe Anniversary Tomorrow
LeopoIdviIIe and BrozzovIe to Join
In Marking Freedom From Noz Rule

A1NOpCio - 81 VI UOQdN
prisoner king, and the French for
Count de Brazza, Stanleys con-
temporary and intrepid rival.
However, Leopoldville - Brussels
on the Congo-represents a smaller
European country but it is bigger,
more ornate and more pretentious
than Brazzaville-Paris on the Con-
go. But neither Is large enough to
shut out the green wilderness
around the brutal river that flows
between them.
Belgians Back De Gaulle.
Each city extends about 4 miles
along the river bank. Each is
fringed at the outside by native en-
campments, airports. hospitals and
wireless stations. But the Kongo
is broader than either narrow strip
of civilization. The current races
between them faster than an au-
tomobile can travel from one end
of either city to the other.
Today Gen. de Gaulle's face is
seen on nearly as many walls in
Leopoldville as in Brazzaville. Gen.
de Gaulle represents what the Bel
gians would need If the Darlan type
of government existed in Belgium.
Only about $4,000 Belgians-less
than the number of immigrants the
United States absorbed from Europe
during single month at the height
OF the refugee exodus-rule some
IL 900 900 blacks. They have taken
over the shipment of vital supplies
to the Allies as their responsibility
and are content not to need a De
Gaulle as an emblem of unremit-
ting battle
Among the colonial men and
women in sun helmets seen on the
streets of both Leopoldville and
Brazzaville, the charge by Frances
former Premier Paul Reynaud that
Leopold III laid down his arms
without being beaten has now been
buried and forgotten. Both parties
are prepared to admit Leopold's in
nocence. Such forgiveness has not
been precisely easy for either side
because the Belgians and French,
for years in their frankest moments,
used their kinship of language to
criticize each other with the same
candor, sometimes acerbity, as
Americans and Canadians and vice
versa.
Both Find Tolerance.
Free Frances birthday finds both
in the same position of following
Great Britain's marching tune be-
cause Britain still Is herself and
has veto control on all American
arms assignments without which
neither can fight. Finding himself
obliged to carry on the war strictly
on British lines, both the French
man and the Belgian has found
some degree of tolerance in seeing
cousin in the same position of
discipline
Even when celebrating De Gaulle
Day, Brazzaville seems more of an
African city and Leopoldville more
European. Leopoldville resembles
even more Mississippi River towns
of the deep South. Its single large
hotel reaches four stories in height.
But although it is smaller, Brazza-
vile is more picturesque.
Leopoldville, although a govern
ment seat and headquarters of
would-be tourist traffic, is actually a
business center operating handful
of large corporations which own the
Congo comercially Brazzaville is
palmer, more military in tone. Leo
poldville has a fleet of American
taxis to conquer its enormous dis
tances, but Brazzaville is content
with its '4push-push" monocycle
rikshas with two native runners.
Both cities have responsibilities
far beyond their dimensions and
even when they are putting on their
brightest show, the Congo seems
mightier than either. At 6 O'Clock
in the evening, when the blush
autumnal dusk ends the 12-hour
equatorial day and the sun drops
like burning orange behind the
hills, the 25-foot launches which
take Europeans and natives alike
across the spinning whirlpools cease
running, fearful that In the dark
ness they may be swept into the
rapids. After 10 o'clock at night
even telephone conversation be-
tween tropical France and Belgium
is severed and the Congo splits this
miniature African axis until
morning.
Traffic Over River Mounts.
With Brazzaville celebrating and
Leopoldville helping, the trans-river
traffic now has mounted to two
launches hourly, which is the equiv
alent of a traffic rush. Each sides
Ellis Island consists merely of an
official in shorts, studying q book
resembling hotel register, under
the veranda Of q small cottage, with
pair of native soldiers to help him.
All persons crossing the river sign
this book.
But In the waterside customs
house, overshadowed by Mississippi
style sternwheelers and sidewheelers,