ENEMY HOLDS NO FRENCH CAPITAL SHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 158, 5 July 1940, Page 7

ENEMY HOLDS NO FRENCH CAPITAL SHIP.

SAYS ADMIRAL.

Naval Vessels, 'Planes And Money For Britain. SAVE HONOUR OF FLAG. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received noon.) LONDON, July 4. Vice-Admiral Muselier, commander of the free French Navy and Air Force, in an interview, announced that no French capital ship is in German or Italian hands. A number of French naval vessels had rallied to General de Gaulle's cause, and eeveral French submarines were in British waters.

Several warships, which wero under construction in France, were taken from docks and etocke and towed to safety, together with workmen to complete them.

Valuable Cargoes Seized. "From the money collected from the time-chartering of French merchantmen under my orders and from valuable cargoes I heve seized from certain vessels, I have now;, enough resources—several millions of pounds sterling—to keep the forces going for several years," he said.

"The French naval vessels in British ports are etill flying the French flag, but are disarmed. I aim at saving the honour of tlie French naval flag. I am going to co-operate with Britain to the utmost of my ability and strength."

In a broadcast appeal to the French Fleet, Vioe-Admiral Muselier declared that the navel personnel must obey their ships' commanders. They are free from any duty to the men who decided to surrender the Fleet without fighting.

The Vice-Admiral ia forming a battalion of marines. M. Labarthe revealed that he came to England with a shipload of copper worth over £l,00(),000i He refused to carry out certain work for the Bordeaux Government and escaped to England when in danger of arrest. Many eminent French scientists, chemists and engineers accompanied M. Labarthe. It is authoritatively stated that a number of modern bombers are included in the French 'planes in Britain.

LATEST BATTLESHIPS. Richelieu And Jean Bart Not Accounted For. VIOLENT GERMAN ABUSE. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. The "Daily Telegraph" points out that the two largest and most modern of the French battleships, Richelieu and Jean Bart, are not accounted for. The former was last reported in the Atlantic, possibly engaged in her trials, and the other is still incomplete.

The German Press and wireless violently abuee Great Britain and Mr. Churchill for the action taken against the French Fleet.

An Alexandria message states that no information has yet been given out regarding the future of the French Fleet there. Meanwhile the British and French Fleets remain in harbour, outwardly calm.