Evening star., 1942-03-01

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At EQUATOR
HOW AXIS PLAN OF CONQU
TONS SUPPLY ROUTES-He
path Of Japanese conquest tow
anticipated German effort to d
Mediterranean into the oil field
the landing operations from the sea
were directed by Comdr. F. N. Cook
of the Royal Australian Navy.
This landing force, it was dis
closed, was composed of Royal Fusi-
ners and the South Wales borders
home forces.
The exploit gave tremendous lift
to the British public which, with the
example Of a smashing sea-air Of
tense In the Java Sea, the continu-
ing Russian offensive, and even the
local counterblows Of Gen. Douglas
Macarthur in the Philippines before
it, has been clamoring for offensive
action against Hitler.
Counter to Ships Escape.
In meaSure the attack was q
counter to the escape of the team
of 26,5O0-ton German battleships
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from
Brest to North German ports.
Although Hitler may have desired
to concentrate his sea battle force
to counter an Allied invasion
threat in Norway this spring, the
raid served to show that the French
coast can be invaded as well as
Norway and that the Germans do
not now have a naval force in that
area to counter it.
Observers believed tonight that
the incursion pointed the way to
the opening up of repeated fronts
by the British on the continent in
coming months, temporary fronts
which they would open up and then
close at will.
They could thus hope to keep
some millions of Hitler's men on
guard from Narvik to the Bay of
Biscay and unable to take part in
the projected spring offensive in
Russia.
Speculation on future military
operations was generally frowned on
In case an attempt is made to open
up a major front, but 1t was re-
garded as significant by observers
that the Films had chosen just this
time to begin the removal Of chill
dren from Helsinki and other coastal
cities and that the Germans have
cleared large parts Of Norwegian
coastal areas of civilians and are
strengthening their coastal defenSes.
Coasts Heavily Mined.
It is known that the Germans
have heavily mined the French.
Netherlands and Belgian coasts.
Most observers feel that II the
British with American help
hardly any one thinks the American
troops are in Northern Ireland
merely for defense-do decide on q
major attack they will choose Nor
way or Finland for their front for
a dual reason.
One would be the difficulties in
volved for Hitler in maintaining two
distant and remote fronts, and the
other would be to assure q Northern
Sea route for Russian supply.
Just when an all-out Allied attack
would be launched is likely to de-
pend largely on the shipping situa-
ton.
1t took $50 cargo ships averaging
5000 tons and 30 personnel ships
averaging 1000 tons to shift to
France between September and
November. 1899, the four British
divisions and line of communication
troops which made up the initial
force of the B. E. F.
Appeals Recalled.
Although Prime Minister Churchill
on November IL did not envisage a
satisfactory shipping situation until
l943. 1t was recalled here that the
B. B. c. recently appealed ito all
Frenchmen, women and even chill
dren to be prepared for an Allied
Decentralization on the European
continent which may come one day"
And again last night Sir Stafford
Cripps, former Ambassador to Soviet
Russia, who is now a member of the
cabinet, urged workers in the Axis
occupied countries to strike now
80 and know in your hearts that
We stand by you"
Although last nights raid was an
nounced early today, it was not un-
til late tonight that the details were
made available.
Commandos, units Of specially
trained and toughened shock troops
Tor amphibian operations along the
coast, have carried out similar hit
and-run offensives in Norway, but
this was the first such attack on a
large scale in France since the Ger
man-French armistice of June, l94e.
Parachutists have been reported
unofncially to have been dropped in
small numbers at various times over
France, and they were used In small
force In Italy on February IA, I94l.