Evening star., 1942-11-10
BY ALVIN ]. sTEINKOPF.

yefeItCeS 0uTtHV HS many years
in Gernany) ~.s.
BY ALVIN ]. STEINKOPF.
Germany's answer to landings of
American troops in Northern Africa
may be the occupation of all of
France in the near future, in the
opinion Of informed observers here
and in Europe.
From the German point of view
military necessity requires it, and
a tip-off that such step is contem-
plated came from Berlin yesterday.
A German Foreign Office spokes-
man told foreign correspondents
that developments in North Africa
directly affect the terms of the
armistice between Germany and
France, and the implication was
plain that Berlin intends to change
the terms.
Most important stipulation of the
Gfrman-French armistice was, of
course, that the French. lay down
their arms. Second in Importance
was the German recognition of a
French state, and French govern
ment which could function in a
zone not to be occupied by German
troops.
Southern Coast Now Significant.
Military considerations dictated
the terms of the armistice. Ger
many certainly was overlooking no
military advantage. So the south
east corner of France, next to Italy
and far from active combat zones,
was set aside as the zone in which
q cooperative French government
might function.
But the regions which might fig
ure in military developments were
occupied. So Germany took the en-
tire Atlantic coast, with its subma-
rine and naval bases. the more vital
stretch of the Spanish border and
the railway lines and highways
which could be of service to an army
moving up and down in war
against England.
fThe Mediterranean shore of
France, at the time, was of no great
military consequence.
fBut it has, overnight, assumed ter
rife military significance. Amer
ioan troops now face it across the
narrow Mediterranean. For that
vast armada which landed an Amer
ican Army of many thousands of
soldiers in Africa>in what seemed to
be the twinkling of an eye the width
Of the Mediterranean is just a hop,
skip and a jump.
THE south shore of France, from
q! military point of view, is on open
dpor to Europe. 1t is almost incon-
cSivable that Hitler would fail to
close the door. A pretext to invade
France in contradiction to the armi-
stice terms could be found easily
enough. It might, for instane, be
held that France. did not defend
African parts of her empire with
sbficient vigor, and so herself vio-
lated the armistice agreement.
Fortifications in Wrong Place.
Occupying all of France would be
q military chore Hitler would avoid
gladly. 1t would require the services
Of thousands of soldiers urgently
needed elsewhere. And Hitler, al
READY short of workers. would have
t6 undertake the terrific labor of
building Notifications along the
sputh coast eoualing in strength the
iefenses so laboriously erected along
the Atlantic coast of France and the
North Sea exposures of the Low
Countries. Figuring on attack from
the west, he placed his Notifications
Id the wrong place, at the cost of a
Vast drain on the economic and
labor resources of Germany and the
occupied countries.
The south of Europe is generally
rhferred to by the Germans them
telves as the soft, southern flank
II the continent" So long as no
&eat military danger threatened
ffom that direction, Germany was
obntent to leave Italy on guard. But
uertainly no German field marshal
Would concede that Italy is adequate
tb the present emergency. No Ger
man leader could see his embattled
ointment flanked by a major force
without showing concern.
so while the German Foreign Of
fee may say it views the American
occupation of Africa with "icy calm,
It. is certain that in the Bender
Strasse the high command is run
rtng a temperature. Among the ST
df so German field marshals ane
Generals whose opinions finally
cfystallize into high command de-
clsions are some radicals who Woule
sfiffen the soft side" of Europe al
the way from Gibraltar to the Dar'
dhnelles. Some OF them even urge
Military occupation Of Italy to brace
ltp that Axis partner and make II
aWare of it's military responsibilities
sThese radicals probably could mo-
6evail, in view OF the terrific strair
hing placed on the German wal
machine. But they and many o.
their more conservative colleague!
a.e sure to insist on filling that glar'
ihg hole represented by the south
dbast of France.
Ia Berlin dispatch to the Neut
zurerlcher Zeitung confirms thi
dew. It said Germany and 1tal!
dill show no lack of decision in act
ihg quickly, cold-bloodedly."