FATE OF THE FRENCH FLEET

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23064, 5 July 1940, Page 9

FATE OF THE FRENCH FLEET

Seizure Carried Out by Britain

RESISTANCE OFFERED BY UNITS AT ORAN

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCtATJOIJ—-COPTaiQHT.) (Received July jt, 10 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. The Ministry of Information states that steps were 99 July 3 to place alj French warships in British POFfS Unde* British control* ' wps dope successfully, yyijtjb only two casual? ties, wrueh were the result of a misunderstanding. British sjteps were taken, before it was too late, to ensure that the French Fleet should not be used against Britain by the fleets of her' corpmon enemy. “Regarding those units of the French Fleet ip fwtff African ports,” the Udipistry states* ‘-the yice? admiral commanding them was offered certain .conditions designed solely to prevent the fleet falling into German hands. This was explained to the French vice-admiral at Qran* hut he refused to accept them and action had tp be taken against French ships ip that locality.” TJ|g first details of th,e action at Oran are contained in p dm # |ch frP m the noted American jpurpalist, Mr H. R. Kpicforbopker, which has been published in the Hpar§t newspapers in the 'United States? Mr Knickerbocker that the British Navy has put out pf action or seized important units pf the French Fleet. Jhp principal action took place round Oran. The British authorities learned that the French intended to take their ships to France yesterday afternoon? and after the conditions submitted by the British for the detention of the French Fleet had been rejected, the warships tried to sail put of Oran at $ o’clock in the afternoon.* The two fleets then engaged battle. Referring to Germany’s anxiety to prevent the British obtaining control of the French Fleet, Mr Knickerbocker said that the French authorities had been advised by the Germans that if the fle et was not returned to its home ports, female member of the families of French mm officers and ratings would be interned in concentration egmpS* Mr Knickerbocker went on to say that VicC' 4dmiral Darian, the former OmamanderrimCbief' of the French PsFayy, sept |p secret code to the commanders of the French warships what be said was his test order.* In this order he told the commanders not to surrender their ships and to disregard any further orders he might send because he would be acting under constraint, put this attempt tp frustrate Germany’s plans Was followed fef French Government plagmg in command of the warships officers who were willing tp capitulate* 1