RAID ON TUNIS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 208, 30 May 1941, Page 7

RAID ON TUNIS

Attack By R.A.F. Claimed VICHY AIR FORCE Permitted To Operate In Empire (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, May. 28. A Vichy spokesman disclosed that the Germans and the Italians have relaxed the armistice regulations to permit France to build up a continental air force “for the defence of her empire." The strength of the force is not disclosed.

The official French statement said: “As a result of events at Mer's-el-Kebir and Dakar, where France was forced, to defend her territory against? attack, the Germans are granting this arm as a proper means to resist foreign aggression.” It was announced that the Royal Air Force twice bombed Sfax, Tunis, today, hitting the phosphate company’s storehouse, where several persons were injured. The steamer Rabelais, which was directly hit, was set ou fire, and eight of those on board were injured. Combat Over Syria. An Associated Press message from Vichy says that according to French reports from Beirut, British and French air squadrons met in combat in Syria near Aleppo. A British Glen Martin bomber, it is reported, bombed the aerodrome, after which it was brought down by a French fighter and the three occupants were killed. The Associated Press correspondent in Jerusalem reports that General Fourgera has been removed from the command of the army of the Levant i (Syria and Lebanon), and has been’ replaced by General de Verdulas, who has arrived from Marseilles. Admiral Darlan in Vichy today gave a significant warning to the fishermen of France. Without referring directly to their activities in helping patriotic Frenchmen to escape from Vichy to General de Gaulle, he told them that their fishing was so important that they must do that and nothing else. Fishermen must in no circumstances help in enterprises that would deter them from their duties or that would justify measures limiting or suspending their present facilities.

In the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, reaffirmed that the offer of economic support to any Frenchmen supporting us in the struggle with Germany still held good. He recalled the offer of the Prime Minister last August, when he told General de Gaulle that Britain would give economic help on a scale similar to that available to the British colonies, to those French territories which rallied to his cause. NOTE TO WASHINGTON More Conciliatory Aud Informative

(Received May 29, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 29.

The Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says the Vichy Government’s latest Note to Washington, in which the United States was assured that France would not hand over her lleet or colonies to any foreign Power, shows clearly that Admiral Darlan’s attitude has changed considerably in the last 10 days, and that this is doubtless because of, protests from the entire French nation.

Marshal Petain ordered Admiral Darlan to do his utmost to reconcile American public opinion, and also to give every possible proof that the collaboration with Germany is forced on France by circumstances, and does not mean co-operation in any military sense. The Note signed by Admiral Darlan, the correspondent says, contains a long and detailed report on the French situation, and gives details of the whereabouts of units of .the French fleet, which is described as “still a formidable and undefeated fighting force.” Capital Ships Ready for Sea.

It says that the battleship Richelieu, which was damaged by the British at Dakar, is now repaired, and the battleship Jean Bart, which went to Oran in an unfinished state when France collapsed, is now completed and ready for sea. The battle-cruiser Strasbourg and the battleship Provence are stated to be in commission in French waters; the cruisers Georges Leygues, Gloire and Montcalm are in African waters, the aircraft-carrier Bearn and the cruiser Jeanne d’Arc are now in the West Indies, and the cruisers Algerie, Colbert, Foeh, and Dupleix are in the Mediterranean with 45 modern destroyers and 50 submarines. The Note declares that France again gives her solemn word that the military terms of the armistice will in no way be allowed to be superseded or surpassed. This does not mean that France is able to resume the war in order to enforce her own strict neutrality, but it means that she will not allow* the Germans or Italians to occupy any French base in North Africa or elsewhere.

Though Admiral Darlan was unI able to reassure Washington that i French troops will not attack the | African colonies adhering to General de Gaulle, he is believed to ' have tentatively proposed that an ! expedition against the Free French might be postponed if the United • States guaranteed that she would I not occupy the French West In- ■ ■ dian islands, and also Dakar and Casablanca. | Admiral Darlan declared that at. prei sent no more Germans were going to Iraq across Syria. j 5000 MORE TAKEN i Enemy In Abyssinia LONDON, Ma) 28. Today another Italian general, commander of tlie 261 b Division, stirren- | dered with the men and the mechaiiI ized forces lie commanded. The Cairo communique announces | that nearly 5000 troops, including 314 ■ Italian officers, were captured in the i operations leading to the occupation i of Sttdli, in tlie centre of the lakes dis- ■ tvict. Increased pressure is being I brought to boar on tlie Italians west I of Addis Ababa, around Gondor ' An Italian communique says that Colonel de Clcco fell in action while lighting in Hie lakes region of Abyssinia. QUIET IN IRAQ ' LONDON, Ma) 28. A Cairo communique states that the ' situation round Falluja and Habbania I remains unchanged.. Basra, is quiet