Show l Icelandic Outpost Seen Y Open to Nazi Capture By y DREW DREV MIDDLETON REYKJAVIK Iceland Oct 1 Delayed AP Despite AP-Despite Despite its remoteness this keystone position in the battle of the Atlantic could be highly difficult to defend if the Germans should decide to make an out all-out effort to capture it what what- ever quantity of troops and and equipment the United States were to send informed military military mili mill tary quarters said Tuesday These sources said they were satisfied Iceland is a formidable position now and that the United States army and air corps would t have opportunities to make It much stronger But two years of ot war have demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated dem- dem that the German high command makes its plans on a grandiose scale and is unsparing ot of and men equipment S Germany would be likely to at- at ck Iceland for one reason only i clear clear indication that she he is losing losing los- los 0 ing the battle of the Atlantic because be be- i cause of British American occupation tion of this island informed quarters f. f k tars said r The high command might then expend men ships and planes without stint to acquire this Incomparable incomparable incomparable in in- In- In f comparable base for Sor antisubmarine marine ma rine activities I Military sources said the coming comIng com- com Ing winter might afford the Geri Germans Ger- Ger i 4 mans an opportunity for an attack here The arctic nights are 22 h hours urs long giving ships and troop y carrying planes cover for an assault as- as sault Her greatest obstacle would be belack lack of fighter support since Ince Iceland Iceland Iceland Ice Ice- land is out of range of her Mes Mes- It would be necessary necessary sary to transport planes by ship to a point some miles off shore rand and and then fly them to selected areas which would be turned into air fields by ground crews accompanying accompany accompany- ing them in troop transports y On trips around this island I have seen many fields suitable for fighters and troop transports I But Iceland's Iceland s coasts are guarded I day and night by naval air patrols and army detachments There also is an abundance ance of ot beaches on which barges carrying troops and light tanks from transports transports trans trans- ports could be landed Iceland's Iceland s main overland communication communication com com- a highway along the shores is vulnerable to attack from these beaches many of which are within a stones stone's throw of the road J t German troop transports and heavy bombers could make the mile pO mUe air hop from Trondheim l in in Norway in stride Once they had cut the highways the defending defend defend- ing ng garrison would have a job to hold Reykjavik at the apex of the three main roads |