EXPORTS TO BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23479, 6 November 1941, Page 5

EXPORTS TO BRITAIN

SHIPPING PROSPECTS BETTER STATEMENT BY SIR EARLE PAGE (Received November 5, 11 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, November 4. Sir Earle Page, Australia’s special representative in London, told the Australian Associated Press that Australia’s prospects for shipping facilities lor exports were not quite as bad as they appeared five or six months ago. Australia and New Zealand would get a further substantial share of refrigeration space. “We should be able to deal with the bulk of the meat intended for export next year,” he said. “Shipments will probably compare favourably with last year’s when canned meat is taken into consideration. Something like 1 the same percentage is going to the Middle East and the Far East.” Information on different aspects of the food situation in Britain has been given by the Ministry of Food. New agreements have been reached for the supply of lamb, mutton, and beef from the Argentine, Uruguay, New Zealand, and Australia, which amount to nearly 1,000,000 tons of meat, and it is hoped that shortly a contract with Brazil will also be completed. The Ministry has -evolved a scheme covering November, to ensure greater distribution of dried fruits, and people making Christmas puddings should secure supplies during this month. FRENCH CONVOY INTERCEPTED CONTRABAND CARGO SUSPECTED ATTEMPT TO SCUTTLE THREE SHIPS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, November 4. A convoy of five Vichy ships has been intercepted by units of the South African Navy and the South African Air Force, between Madagascar and South Africa. It is believed that the vessels were carrying contraband for Germany, as the crews of three vessels tried to scuttle them. This was prevented by naval boarding parties. Three of the vessels were of 8000 tons, one of 9800 tons, and one of 3500 tons. An Admiralty communique states: “The Vichy Government has recently been attempting to run contraband for the Germans from the East to France, in escorted convoys. Our patrols sighted one such convoy, escorted by a French sloop, and the necessary forces were sent to intercept the convoy off South Africa. “On the arrival of His Majesty's ships the escorting sloop was requested to direct the convoy to proceed into port so that it could be examined, within our belligerent rights. This request was refused, and so steps were taken to board the ships, upon which three out of five made a determined attempt to scuttle themselves. Their action, however, was frustrated by the prompt steps taken by our boarding parties. ■> "This attempt can orily have been made in compliance with instructions which the Germans are known to have given, that French ships are to scuttle themselves rather than allow a search to be carried out, and guilty cargo disclosed. “The operation is still proceeding.” Vichy Communique A communique issued by the Vichy Ministry of Marine says: “Five French merchantmen, the Bangkok, the Compiegne, the Cap Padaran, the Cap Tourane, and the Commandant Dorise, proceeding to Dakar from Madagascar, were 200 miles southward of Durban ■on November 2, escorted by the gunboat Diberville when four British cruisers and six patrol ships With premeditation pursued and intercepted the convoy. “The French merchantmen were carrying colonials returning to France and also supplies for West African natives and the French in unoccupied France, namely 9000 tons of sugar, 5000 tons of coffee, and 2000 tons of rice. There was no contraband and no war material. “The French Government has protested against this aggression. “The British Admiralty sent a radio message saying that the convoy was under German orders, for the purpose of favouring German contraband. This is a lying accusation and is baseless.” The communique added that the commander of the Diberville agreed to return to Madagascar, but the French ships were obliged to submit to force. It is officially stated in Cape Town that South African naflal vessels and aeroplanes participated in the interception. Newspaper Comment In a leading article on the interception of the French convoy, the "Daily Mail” says: "Vichy has long been helping our enemies and doing its utmost to weaken our .blockade. It is well known that about 300 ships a month sail between North Africa and French Mediterranean ports with war materials, 80 per cent, of which is handed over to the Germans. “Our retaliation is so half-hearted that the traffic is increasing. It has become farcical to differentiate between occupied and unoccupied France, because the enemy controls both. The time will come when Britain must impose a real blockade on Vichy France In the interests of selfdefence.” “The Times” says; “The French intention appears to be to trump .up a charge against Britain of increasing France’s miseries by depriving her of supplies but Britain has just sanctioned the dispatch of a shipload of supplies from America for Vichy France. Britain has turned a blind eye on supplies passing from the French empire to Marseilles. Vichy is now presuming on this concession.” Another Admiralty communique states: “Our coastal forces on patrol in the English Channel last night intercepted a large enemy supply ship, which was strongly escorted. The enemy supply ship was hit by two torpedoes fired by one of our vessels, and she either has sunk or has been beached in a seriously-damaged condition. No casualties or damage was suffered by our vessels. “The enemy escorts were meanwhile heavily engaged by others of our patrol. Our fire was seen to be effective, and damage and casualties are likely to have been Inflicted on one of the enemy. “One of our vessels suffered some damage. Our casualties were one officer and four ratings wounded,” the communique adds. Protest at Internments.—The American Embassy, on behalf of Britain, has asked for an explanation of the arrest of the 14 British subjects on the Riviera. Mr John Amery. son of the Secretary of State for India, is one of those interned.—Washington. Nov. 4.