383 MISSING

Grey River Argus, 29 July 1940, Page 8

383 MISSING

“MEKNES” SINKING 1000 Survivors FAUst. & N.Z. Cable Ansn J LONDON, July 25. One thousand survivors from the French mq&tor liner “Meknes (18,000 tons), which was by £ German motor-boat in the E g Channel, have so far been landed at B O??ho°e rt on board, 125 oncers a„d 41 men are now in hospital in E 1 ° land? and the rest of -hose saved me being cared for m naval estabnsn It is believed that there other survivors who reached French eoaat, ac men were seen ewimmin* in thcit direction. One survivor said that many had to jump into the sea. Thos; (he lifeboats threw overboard their lifebelts In the hope that the swimmine- men would reach them. Bullets were striking the water tne men were still swimming foi their 11V Qf the 950 survivors from the “Meknes” landed at Weymouth, 150 who were seriously injured were, taken to hospital. 383 PERSONS MISSING.

[British Official Wireless] RUGBY, July 26. More-accurate information, giving he numbers of French naval pers nnel rescued from the “Meknes,” is i now available. So far as is known, the vessel carried 99 French naval . officers and 1090 ratings, two women and one child. The ship’s crew consisted of nine officers and 90 men. Ninety-nine officers and 769 ratings, two women, and one child were landed at British ports after the vessel was sunk, leaving nine officers and 374 ratings unaccounted for. It is possible that some of these survived, as the ship’s boats were seen making for the French shore, which some may have reached. Ng Safe Passage [British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 26. Authoritative circles in day, denied the report that the German Government had given a guarantee of safe passage to the “Meknes.” The French Government at Vichy was notified- in general terms of the British Government’s intention to repatriate those members of the Freren forces in this country, who wish to return to France, and that it was proposed to use French ships Rd the purpose To this, the French Government raised no objection. The time of departure and the route was not specified to the Fr meh Government, but the Admiralty fook every step to make the ship easily identified. The “Meknes” flashed her name, nationality, and destination to the attackers several times before she was torpedoed. As the torpedo was carried by a surface craft, and not by a submarine, there cannot be the slightest doubt that the command of the surface craft knew exactly what he was doing. Onus on France TO NOTIFY GERMANY. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, July 26. Britain notified the Petain Government of the sailing of the “Meknes’’. The onus, therefore, devolved upon France to notify Germany. This was obviously not done. The German radio, blaming Mr Churchill for the sinking of the “Meknes,” says: Mr Churchill’s latest propaganda trick is too transparent, for every shipping register shows that the steamer “Merknes” was of only 6,000 tons. Therefore, she cannot be identified with the 18,000-ton steamer mentioned in yesterday’s German communique. It was sufficiently known in London that Cermany proposed to treat all ships flying the French flag as enemy. France’s Navy MANNED FOR BRITAIN. RUGBY, July 26. Steps are already well advanced for manning the French warsh’ps which arrived in British ports before the signing of the armistice between France and Germany. A number of French ships, of varying sizes, are now being manned and prepared for sea, entirely by French nave., forces of which Admiral Muselier is the head. He was appointed to this 1 post by General de Gaulle, some time : ago. . , , One ship, manned entirely by Frenchmen, has already been at sca_ taking an active and successful part in the operations. . In addition, French ships w.xli cannot be manned by free French naval forces are being manned chief ■ ly by British crews, assisted by a nucleus of French ratings. These ships will fly both the Tricolour and the White Ensign. Other allied naval forces are also helping to man French ships. French ships in the above categories will come under the general direction of the British Admiralty, and it is hoped that many will be at sea shortly, carrying out operations in the common cause.