DE GAULLE DESISTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 256, 26 September 1940, Page 7

DE GAULLE DESISTS

DECISION AT DAKAR

UNEXPECTED TREND

(United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec 12 noon) LONDON, Sept. 25 It is authoritatively stated that General de Gaulle has decided to abandon bis operations for tbe occupation of Dakar. It is understood tbe decision was made because tlie operations threatened to develop in a direction not envisaged when tbe expedition was launched.

The Vichy correspondent of the British United Press says the casualties at Dakar exceed 600. It is claimed that neither the battleship Richelieu nor the shore batteries aie damaged. France and Germany are discussing the incident, which may speed up the return of the French Government to Paris. The French bombers attacking the British warships are operated from the base at Wall am. It was officially stated early to-day that Dakar is still holding out. The British warships continued their hornbardment during the night, and fighting continued at daybreak. A French air squadron attacked the warships yesterday morning, directly hitting a cruiser. The French' losses to noon were 120 men of tho services and 65 civilians killed, 138 men of the services and 225 civilians wounded. There were further heavy casualties in the afternoon. Three British planes and one French machine have been destroyed.

CONFLICTING REPORTS. It now appears that the Richelieu is beached, but is using her guns. The Government has received no news from Dakar since yesterday afternoon, when bombs put the local radio station out of action, and it is unable to say whether General de Gaulle’s forces have gained a footing. Tliero were three major operations yesterday apart from the six unsuccessful British attempts to land troops 80 miles on either side of Dakar. The British planes operated from an air-craft-carrier, also from Bathurst (in Gampia, south of Dakar). Tlie bombing attacks were centred on the port, but the native and European towns are so close that the bombs caused widespread casualties. BOMBS ON GIBRALTAR.

It is officially stated tnat, retaliating for the fighting at Dakar, an important number of planes yesterday dropped 45 tons of bombs on Gibraltar, hitting the arsenal, the south mole, and one big ship. Heavy smoke was observed. The bombs caused far greater damage than any in the past. “Tbe Italian and German raid won’t be the last reprisal if the British continue to shell Dakar.” The Berlin News Agency states that French planes continued bombing Gibraltar this morning.