STRRING CALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 5, 5 July 1940, Page 7

STRRING CALL

FRENCH ADMIRAL

BY BRITAIN'S SIDE

NO CAPITAL SHIPS TO

ENEMY

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

(Received July 5, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, July 4

Vice-Admiral Muselier, who wasj recently appointed Commander of the French naval forces under General de Gaulle, announced in an interview that no French capital ship was in German or Italian hands. A number of French naval vessels had rallied to General de Gaulle's cause. French submarines were in British waters. Several warships which were under construction in France had been taken from the docks and stocks and towed to safety, together with the workmen to complete them. "With money I have collected from the time chartering of French merchantmen under my orders, and from valuable cargoes I seized from certain vessels," said the Admiral, "I have now enough resources—several million pounds—to keep the forces going for several years. "French naval vessels in British ports are still flying the French flag, but are disarmed. I aim at saving the honour of the French naval flag. I am going to co-operate with Britain to the utmost of my ability and strength." In a broadcast appeal to the French fleet, Vice-Admiral Muselier declared: "The naval forces must obey their ships' commanders. They are free from any duty to the men who decided to surrender the fleet without fighting." Vice-Admiral Muselier is forming a battalion of marines. M. Labarthe, who is associated with • General de Gaulle, revealed that he came to England with a shipload of copper worth over £1,000,000. .He refused to carry out certain work for the Bordeaux Government and escaped to England when in danger of arrest. Many eminent French scientists, chemists, and engineers accompanied M. Labarthe. It is authoritatively stated that a number of modern bombers are included in French planes in Britain. The German news agency says that the French Government informed the Armistice Commission that it would scuttle French warships if they were unable to escape capture.