Evening star., 1942-05-07
Modoquscur-und Beyond

car, with the whole hearted backing
Of the United States, is an act not
merely important in itself but one
with wide ramif1cations. The stra-
tegic significance of this vast island,
1000 miles long and the size of
Texas, is self-evident. Lying only
225 miles OF the east coast OF Africa,
Madagascar is like q breakwater
shielding the Mozambique Channel,
the short water route for shipping
around the Cape of Good Hope
bound for the Red Sea, the Persian
Gulf and 1ndia's west coast, while
the sea lane for Ceylon and the Far
East passes near the islands south
ern tip. In japanese hands, NADIA
gascar would. have cut the supply
lines for every British army in the
Near and Middle East, since the
Mediterranean is no longer feasible
for conveys. The japanese could
also have threatened Britain's hold
on the entire east coast Of Africa,
no part Of which is strongly held.
Mombasa and Zanzibar lie only 800
miles from Diego Suarez, while Alden,
the key to the Red Sea, is about
1000 miles. Portuguese East Africa,
across the strait from Madagascar,
a vast colony with more than 1000
miles Of sea frontage, is militarily
defenseless and also under Axis pres
sure at home That is a very danger
Gus combination. It enhances the
alarm Of the South African Union
over the Madagascar situation, and
explains why South African troops
are reportedly landing on the island
In the wake Of the British marines
and commandos who struck the
initial blow near Diego Suarez, the
chief French naval base.
The capture OF Diego suarez logi-
cally should be merely the first step
In an effective occupation of the en-
tire island. The interior plateau is
dotted with airf1elds, none Of which
should be left as potential bases for
enemy landings. The stin resistance
put up by the Vichy French local
authorities, on express orders from
the Laval government, marks them
as enemies who must be disposed Of.
Incidentally, the attitude Of the
native population should be an i'm
portant factor. The former ruling
race, known as Hovas, are Of Malayo-
Polynesian stock, and were Chris
tianized and civilized by British mis-
sionaries during the nineteenth CEN
tury. Madagascar was reluctantly
abandoned to the French as part of
the worldwide colonial bargain
struck between Britain and France
during the 1905. The French over
threw the native kingdom Of the
Hovas, but French rule has been
harsh, the island has been neglected,
and there Is good evidence that the
people have never been reconciled.
There is thus no reason why they
should support the Vichy authori-
ties.
With Vichy an avowed or tacit
enemy of the United Nations, the
other French possessions in the In
dian Ocean probably will have to be
safeguarded from being used as
Japanese bases. Several groups of
islands, notably the Comoros and
Reunion, lie within a few hundred
miles Of Madagascar. Much farther
south Is the st. Paul group Of islands,
right on the sea lane from the Cape
Of Good Hope to Australia. These
could become a dangerous base for
japanese submarines and surface
raiders.
The British expedition against
Diego Suarez thus is seen to be
merely the beginning of preventive
operations on a large scale. This is
regrettable at a time when ships and
troops are so badly needed in direct
actions against the Axis. But the
situation in the Indian Ocean is too
serious for the neglect of anv i'm