FRENCH HELP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 235, 5 October 1939, Page 18

FRENCH HELP.

WAR ON U-BOATS. STRENGTH OF NAVY. EFFICIENCY AND MORALE. (Special..-By Ait- Mall.) PARIS, September 13. I learned to-day. at the Ministry of Marine, the ■ French Admiralty, sonicthing of the way in,, which France's modern Navy ..is co-operating with the British sea.forces to remove the scourge of the U-boat from -the Allies' trade routes. .. .

In a room high in the Ministry an official said: "\A o. are proud to be able to help you kill the U-boat menace. Our ships are helping to protect British commerce in the Channel and on the Atlantic." I watched below the bee-like activity of hundreds of Frencli sailors iir the Ministry's courtyard. Blue Navy c.irs were constantly arriving through the archway, which stands opposite Maxim's, where fashionable Paris was at lunch. The official I epoke with was eating lunch at his desk. lew Britons realise France's naval strength. Two months ago, on gunnerv exercises off Portsmouth, British officer's told me that they were most impressed with the efficiency of the officers and the morale of the "matelots" in the French ships. Their big destroyers, which hold the speed record at over 45 knots, and

smaller craft, have, --r-.'xr.:! the Mediterranean from Gibraltar to Syria, ami report 110 hostile submarines. Shipyards round the coasts of: France are working night and day to add to this valuable anti-submarine fleet. Two new 35,000-ton battleships will soon be ready to join the battle cruisers Dunkerque and Strasbourg, the pride 01 the French Navy, which can outgun and out-steam tlie vaunted Carinan ships Scharnhorst and Gneisenan.