FREE FRENCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 304, 1 October 1940, Page 5

FREE FRENCH.

PLANS WILL BE CARRIED OUT. MADAGASCAR REJECTS WARNING LONDON, September 29. It is stated in London that recent events at Dakar will not affect British plans, which will be carried through to a successful conclusion. They are regarded as only an incident in the major strategy of the war and need not interfere with the effort of the Free French in the Colonial Empire generally. It is reported from Vichy that the Governor-General of Madagascar (M. do Coppot) lias .sent the following telegram to the Vicliy Government: “London dares to warn me that sea communications will be interrupted it Vicliy decisions are applied in Madagascar. I have rejected this outrageous declaration with the utmost scorn.” The Vichy Government states that the casualties in the Dakar incident were 203 killed and 393 wounded. Dakar is now normal. The Richelieu’s forward guns scored a direct hit on the Bai--ham’s steering gear and a torpedo hit the Resolution forward of the bridge. Further evidence of increased pressure on the Vicliy authorities in Syria by the Italians, according to a message from Cairo, is seen in new demands which have been presented. The Italians want the use of Tripoli as a naval base, the use of air bases, including Aleppo, and the complete immobilisation of French armed forces, with the exception of the police.