ORAN BATTLE STILL IN PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 9

ORAN BATTLE STILL IN PROGRESS.

MADRID REPORT.

French Complaint About

Ultimatum.

NOT ENOUGH TIME GIVEN. United Press Association. —Copyright. (K«M.-eived 1 p.m.) ' 1 LONDON. July o. A message from Madrid states that the French Embassy says it is understood that the Anglo-French naval battle off Oran was still progressing this morning. No details arc available.

A report from Geneva, states that a French Admiralty communique confirms that the Bretague was sunk, and the Dunkerque, Provence and Mogador set on fire. It that the eix hours' ultimatum did not give the Fleet time to weigh anchor before the British opened fire.

"Admiral Gensoul replied to the ultimatum that there could be no question of the French Fleet joining the British or being scuttled, and he would meet force with force. The first fire from the Biitish would have the practical cffect of putting the entire French Navy against Britain —a consequence which he knew Britain did not desire." The communique added that France indeed would never have considered the delivery to any Power of a fleet which had not been conquered. French "Pained Feelings." '"Marshal Petain, Admiral Darlan and M. Baudouin, Foreign Minister, had repeated this to Mr. Churchill, Mr. A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, and the British Admiralty," adds the Geneva message.

"The French Admiralty notes with painful feeling that the misfortunes of France left unmoved the English rulers who are thinking only of becoming masters of the French Fleet, which mtist remain French or perish.

"The French Navy, in any case, does not deserve to be stabbed on the order of Mr. Churchill, who last winter implored the French Admiralty for the loan of its principal vessels to protect Canadian ships, because the British Admiralty no longer had the necessary means for doing so.'' The Berlin radio declared that Geueral de Gaulle, organiser of the French National Committee in London, has been informed that he must appear at a court-martial in France for trial. Ships Towed to Britain. A high naval officer stated that the British towed some uncompleted French warships from northern France with their personnel, but it was not known how many of the men will elect to remain in Britain and assist jin the construction of the French vessels. Two additional units of the French Fleet have arrived in Scottish waters. A group of British and French naval ratin.es walked arm-in-arm in the streets of a Scottish port yesterday, singing the "Marseillaise" and "God Save the King." t It is revealed that the tirst French ship arrived at Plymouth on June 19, two days after France's capitulation. Later the same day several French "mosquito" boats entered the harbour. Next day destroyers, submarines and sloops arrived, and in the following days numerous other craft. Situation at Alexandria. The situation at Alexandria is still indefinite. The Associated Press of CJreat Britain correspondent there says British sources described the position of the French Fleet there as "in abeyance." French commanders have been formally advised that they arc not permitted to leave the harbour. All French officers and crews remained aboard the vessels. It. was added that the British "have the situation well in hand."