Attempted Landing At Dakar

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 236, 4 October 1940, Page 7

Attempted Landing At Dakar

EYE-WITNESS STORY

Machine-Guns Trained

On Unarmed Party

(UniUd Press Association.—Copvright— Rec noon.)

LONDON, October 3.

Captain G. Thierry Dargenlieu. who is a priest in peace time, led the party from the die Gaulle party which attempted to land at Dakar last week. When Vichy supporters fired on the party Captain Dargenlieu was seriously wounded on the thigh He stood ,n a boat with blood streaming across his white uniform 3 r f , a h /"'°f »?chin e .gun bullets and directed the withdrawal until the last of his party had withdrawn.

An eye-witness of the Dakar action said that two boats shoved off from the French destroyer Savorgnan Debrazza. six ? Zα * 2° rt - ° f Ji^ T - The firßt c French deputies in full dress colonial uniform. The second was manned by non-commissioned officers and sailors similarly

» k° Un * maißt \ an , d a lieulena »t. after first refusing, permitted the party to land. Other Dakar officials telephoned Ae SrdeT^"? A ,ns^ tion «- He flatly refused to receive the delegation and ordered the party to sea.

Captain pargenlieu asked. "What if we refuseV The reply wa* You will be arrested." Then an orderly rushed up with a written order commanding the arrest of the entire party. Captain Dargenheu shouted a quick warning to his officers and leaped to the boat. As they pulled away from the quay the ensign boarded a small trawler and ordered machine-guns to be trained on the

A momentary hesitation on the part of the gun crews enabled the boats to reach the outer limits of the harbour. There they met a murderous fire from the harbour moles. Captain Dargenlieu was woundedl immediately, but halted hi. boat and awaited the second, which was slower.