Evening star., 1942-04-22
Joponese Threaten
Madagascar
Writer Tells How Seizure
Would interfere With Route
From enelond to lndio
By Mary Ann Bodine.

BY Mary Ann Bodine.
NEW YORK, April z7-Cwide world -
Madagascar. once the haunt Of pirates
who laid a heavy toll on rich carsoes
sailing between England and the East
Indies. again may serve as a rsiding
base should the japanese seize the island.
In their hands. the Axis would have
vital naval base on the western end
| OF the Indian Ocean and thus multiply
the complications Of getting the Allied
armies and materiel to the Middle East.
A japanese mission was reported to
| be on the island more than q month
ago negotiating fox naval and air bases.
London sources at that time remarked
that since the fall OF Singapore the
importance of Madagascar. fourth
largest island in the world, had doubled.
japanese control would make it COM
parstively easy to cut the supply lines
which run past the cape Of Good Hope
and the strategic Mozambique channel,
which separates the island from the
African mainland to the West.
insisted that no commitments have
been made to Japan, there has been q
feeling among the Allies that the same
procedure might be followed as in
Indo- China.
Madagascar Is far from being ideal for
such extensive naval operations as would
be necessary to dominate the Indian
Ocean; but its command by Japan
would certainly imperil the United
Nations hold on the route to Egypt,
British occupied Italian East Africa,
Iran, Iraq, India and Russia.
Its long shore line has few natural
harbors, especially On the east coast,
which is almost straight
japanese raiders, however, could be
based at Diego suarez in the rugged north
tip OF the island and at Majunga on
the northwest coast, both naval stations
for units Of the French feet in the
Indian Ocean. Diego Suarez is the best
harbor on the island, and Majunga would
be valuable as q base for attack on
Mozambique channel. which is about
$50 miles wide.
The natives are O simple, primitive
people. They have no formal religion,
preferring to call God simply "the
fragrant one" Their language Is soft
and musical and they are fond Of sing
ing.
A fabulous land, scene of the exploits
Of Sinbad the sailor and other tall tales
from the Arabian nights, pirate base and
one-time slave market, Madagascar has
had colorful history.
Early IN the 10th century Diaz claimed
the island for the Portuguese and called
1t Isle OF st. Lawrence" When his
eountrymen made no attempt to eolonizs
1t, the Dutch tried and failed.
Then came the French, who estab-
lished military positions on the east
coast. They were massacred. Not until
the late 10th century did they get the
land.
The island itself is $50 miles long and
its area Of 22s 500 square miles is ex-
ceeded by three other islands, Green
land, New Guinea and Borneo.
The chief commercial port Is Tamatavs
on the east coast, but the city is un-
healthy, built close TO marshes and has q
hot, humid climate. Fort Dauphin, In
the arid southern part of the island. has
little to recommend 1t save a good high
way to Tamatave.
$4,000, have found the islands high
central plateau . healthy and pleasant
region.
Tananarive, capital city OF O,0O0
stands on the plateau near the approxi-
mate center of the island 1t is modern
In appearance with boulevards and
parks, churches, schools. hospitals and
an imposing railway station, and o
palace or two vacated when royalty was
formally abolished on the island In 1896.
Economically. the island would be q
good grab for the Japanese, for there
is considerable wealth In the red earth.
The gold mines, worked by the French
since 1897. the year after they took the
island over. have not proved as rich as
was first believed, but many varieties
of precious stones are found-rubies,
sapphires, emeralds, topazes and aqua
marines. Iron Is abundant and other
minerals are believed TO lie In the noun
tains.
Much British capital has been In
vested In Madagascar in the past, but
three-fourths Of its trade has been with
France. The chief exports are raw hides.
preserved meat, tapioca, rice, dried vege-
tables. coffee. graphite and precious
stones.
At one time the island yielded some
rubber.
The forests have been virtually de-
nuded and the tableland Is brown and
barren.
Cattle raising is an important indus
try, and 1t has been said that there are