natives, while still others must stand guard near the frontier of Spanish Morocco. While that flank is relatively safe at present, a potential threat exists because of Spanish relations with the Axis. In view of the above, Weygand has lost, in large measure, the freedom of action which he enjoyed prior to the arrival of the Germans in Africa. Formerly, he could join de Gaulle or the British without being exposed to immediate effective attack. This is no longer the case. The Germans exert this restraining influence by their mere presence near the frontier of Tunisia; they do not even have to move in Weygand's direction. Their arrival in Tripolitania also places them in a favorable position to dictate the division of the spoils in North Africa and facilitates the organization of Fifth Column activities among the natives. The advantages France gained by the stroke of sending Weygand to North Africa have largely been dissipated. To sum up, arrival of German forces in Tripolitania, in addition to helping the Italians morally and materially and constituting a long-range threat to Suez, has the following effects: (1) The chances of Weygand joining the Britisti or of any establishment of an anti-German front in French North Africa are greatly diminished. (2) France is forced one step closer to the Axis. (3) Chances of eventual German occupation of Casablanca and Dakar are somewhat increased. /s/SHERMAN MILES, Brigadier General, U. S. Army, Acting Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2. |