FRENCH FLEET

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1940, Page 5

FRENCH FLEET

ON ALL FRONTS

FRENCH ADMIRALTY REPORT*

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

GRENOBLE, ' July 10

The French Admiralty, in a communique, states: A British naval force at Dakar, on Monday, presented a, v shameful ultimatum, to which the* French 'Admiral- did not ' think fib • to reply. Dakar Was then bombed. Our anti-aircraft -guns , replied vigorously. BRITISH NAVAL. PATROL. . FORT DE FRANCE (Martinique), . July 9, Britisli warships have been patrolling since July 4, but have not attempted . (to intervene.- There (is no indication of an ultimatum. The forces from Aruba have arrived. IS IT A BLOCKADE. ' WASHINGTON, July 9. Mr Hull stated .that the Unite States was observing developments X at Martinique. , There was some .ipjqs-'jf. tion whether tiie British were blockading, or standing by as observers. RE-ARMED AND READ\(. j grenobl#, July-io;:'-The paper “Petit Dauphinois” says: A despatch from Algiers reports tliab the units of the French Fleet whica escaped from Oran < have 'been re-arm-ed and are read y for eventualities. WILL ARMISTICE TERMS VARY 8 GRENOBLE,,-July 10. The paper “Petit Dauphinois’” says: The Italian Armistice Commission has arrived, in . Toulon. It will work out the application of the. Armistice terms in tho Tight of recent events. 'DETAINED AT SINGAPORE.. .. ; SINGAPORE,-July t 10.' Tho naval .authorities here have issiied’a statement that the ship He deFrance is being detained in. SjpgapojreFpending instructions fjoniJ $lO British. Government. •* ' The vessel lias not' been seized. Ska is still Hying trio French flag. DOCKED, AT HALIFAX. ; j '~ ; /- .*• OTTAWA, July 10. v \ ; J Rear-Admiral Percy Nfelles has announced that the French luxury liner Pasteur. has been docked in Halifax.*,:. « He said she will remain there “until s further notice.”

Meanwhile, . despite the severance of Anglo-French relations, the French Minister to Canada, M. Rene Rislebeuber, is to remain at his post, sme* he' is accredited to an autonomous • ’ Canada, j

; % french warships. 1 / DEMILITARISED AT ALEXANDRIA RUGBY, July 9;.; A; statement issued by the British naval author .ties at Alexandria says: “In the Mediterranean, the closest comradeship and goodwill have existed between the Allied forces conducting the war from Alexandria. As soon as it was realised that France must surrender, consultations were held! between the -Commander-in-Chief and Admiral Godfrey. It ivas hoped at that, time that it might bo possible to cou'-s tinue to fight side by side. When tho terms of the armistice became known, it was- evident- that a new situationhad developed. Admiral Godfrey, therefore, was asked to consider vay-. ious proposals, or ihe . linos, of those' 1 sent to Oran.

.Seeing that,, in a. foreign, and iri the presence of a greatly superior British Fleet, there was no possibility ,of the French -ships to sea,' a lid that an attempt ; would only endanger valuable French lives it was agreed 'by Admiral Godfrey' that he would, firstly, put the ships in a condition so that they could not go to sea. This was done by reducing the oil aboard, -so that there was sufficient for harbour purposes only. Secondly, to demilitarise the' Ships,. This was done by landing certain portion's of' the armament and placing them tinder the care of the. French authorities ashore. Thirdly, to.v reduce ■ the crews, so as to leave sufficient only for care and maintenance. . This is now being done, and the crews leaving are beiiig sent to Syria and later" ta France, as had been decided by the French Admiralty'. ' ’■ •

The British Government guarantees the supplies and pay of the men responsible for the maintenance of the ships, arid their return to France at the end of the w r ar.”