FRENCH WARSHIPS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 39, 16 February 1943, Page 3

FRENCH WARSHIPS

SERVE WITH ALLIES

Richelieu's Hazardous Trip Across Atlantic

N.Z.P.A. and British "Wireless Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 15. The official announcement is made from New York that the French battleship Richelieu, with other French warships, has arrived here to join the Allied Fleet. The Richelieu, the cruiser Montcalm and destroyers Fantasque and Terrible arrived in New York after a hazardous three weeks' Atlantic crossing. The squadron was escorted by American and French destroyers and was dogged by a pack of enemy submarines while riding the toughest gale the crews had ever experienced. Only three of the Richelieu's engines were working and at the stern a temporary hull of great timbers had been buiit over a 40ft rent m her side made by British depth-charges and torpedoes at Dakar in July, 1940. Repairs for Service Vice-Admiral Fenard, head of the French naval mission, representing General Giraud, said that the Richelieu and accompanying vessels will be repaired at east coast ports and when they are able to go to sea again the smaller vessels will be used against submarines. . The total French units under General Giraud are three battleships one aircraft carrier, three heavy and six light cruisers, nine destroyers, 10 to 12 sloops, 14 submarines and a number of auxiliaries. Vice-Admiral Fenard added that the French crews were happy to be fighting on the side of the United Nations, and the ships might be used to keep open the African sea lanes, but would operate in any waters decided upon by the Allies. Regarding the scuttling of the French fleet, the Admiral said that the operation Avas prepared since the armistice. There was never any idea of delivering the ships to Germany 4 The French warships immobilised 5 at Martinique and Alexandria since the armistice would be used in the service of the United. Nations. All the xyiits at Dakar are now in action or to be repaired, andwill be in active service shortly, and: this means all the units of the French Fleet not scuttled at Touton and now in Allied hands. The aircraft carrier Bearn will shortly be brought to the United States from Martinique for repairs, and also the other vessels needing repairs and now immobilised at Alexandria. He added that when he visited Alexandria a couple of months ago he found the morale of the French officers and men extremely high.

The 35,000-ton battleship Richelieu has been at Dakar since she was injured there when the Royal Navy raided the base after the fall of France in 1940. The Richelieu was again damaged during the Allied landing operations last November. There have been various reports as to who was in control of the warships at Dakar. One stated that they had been taken over by the Fighting French. Another that they were under the control of the admiral-in-chief of the French naval forces in Morocco. It was alto stated that they were being made seaworthy under Allied supervision.