The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-18
By ADMIRAL WILLIAM V. PRATT
 IT G N Rniircd

J,S'EN', NttiTVu
 For long time French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe have stood out like sore thumb in Vest ern Hemisphere defense. Recently French Guiana passed over to the control of the Giraud forces but Admiral Robert in Martinique and Guadeloupe proving recalcitrant, the State Department turend the entire matetr over to the Navy Department to handle. Now we may rest assured that, since the situation has passed beyond the phase of agreements and words, very active steps will be taken to see that these islands, even if they are not occupied by our forces, afford no comfort to Axis submarines.
 For those who are not aware Of how critical the submarine war is, the controversy over French possess sions in the Western Hemisphere may seem like a tempest in a tea pot. We had stationed observers in Guadeloupe and Martinique, and agreements were made that these islands would not serve as bases for Axis submarine activities. On paper this is fine, but just how much faith can be placed in any agree ments made with agents of Hitler dominated Vichy? And if the Nazis choose to use these islands, what force is there outside of the Allies that has the power to stop them?
 Then, too, what good is obserVa- tion against submarine activities un- less the process includes flying over every spot which might be suspected and in poking in and out of every little harbor or inlet submarine might use? For submarines don't advertise their presence at a base they wish to use but come and go like thieves in the night. Only by the exercise of the same sea and air functions which we maintain at island bases where we do have con- trol can we be absolutely certain that hostile submarines do not make use, to our detriment, of choice spots held by powers not friendly to the Allies.
 We have statements from high of- fcials, one to the effect that Ger man submarines have refueled' at the French island of Martinique, and another that there was no evidence that the island had been useful to the Axis either for submarine oper- ations or otherwise. These state ments are confusing, and the cruX of the matter lies here. Are the French holdings in the Western Hemisphere so situated geographi- cally that they would be of value to the Axis if used to further their submarine campaign? And a corol- lary to this is, could they be used and how? If the answers are yes, then they constitute potential menace,
 French Guiana has now passed out of the controversy. but at one time when submarines were active in western Atlantic, it could have been very much in the picture, About 25O miles north Of the Amazon River 1t lies directly athwart all sea traffic between North and Central America and South America. No submarine base such as exists ln European waters could ever nave been established in French Guiana but if spots exist where, lying m fairly quiet waters, submarines could at night be refueled and re- ceive new installmcnt Of torpe- does, their efficiency would be much increased and they would not have to take the long trek back to home port Let us look at Martinique and Guadeloupe for similar submarine laiyA. On the east coast oi Martinique