EARLIER REPORTS.

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

EARLIER REPORTS.

SHORE GUNS IN ACTION.

LONDON, Sept. 24

The action at Dakar continues. General de Gaulle’s headquarters, in a statement, said that Dakar’s guns had not ceased firing on the French forces and British ships since' the’ start of the operations. k !i - k '' The following communique was issued: “Even after the armistice there were manifestations that French AA 7 est Africa favoured the continuance of the war. These reached suc.lt proportions that the Vichy Government substituted M. Boisson for Governor Cayla. German and Italian officers, who had been going to ’ Dakar since July, assumed control of the air bases, and new German infiltrations had occurred since August. “The Germans intended to re-estab-lish the air line through Dakar to South America. Dakar is an air keypoint. It has an ultra-modern aero-

drome at Ouakam, an aerodrome at Hanne, and also one further inland, a military aerodrome at Thyes and two military aerodromes at St. Louis. Moreover. Dakar is a railhead for the railway to Nigeria and is most important from the viewpoint of telegraph communications. ..

“French West Africa’s commerce lias been paralysed since the armistice, resulting in great suffering,, particularly regarding food. It was therefore necessary to aid the population by freeing the port of the merchandise lying there and feeding the European and native populations. “General de Gaulle, therefore, with forces of every military, naval and aerial kind, sailed in French ships under the French ensign, escorted by battleships of the Free French Navy. British naval forces attended merely to assure supplementary protection against any air attack which Germany might have inspired. They did not participate. “Despite the desire of the population, the local authorities rejected General de Gaulle’s ultimatum and opened hostilities, firing on the three ships, Savorgnan de Brazza, Commandant Duboc and Commandant Don.” The leader of General de Gaulle’s supporters, Professor Saurat, said: “If Dakar is taken and Britain gives the necessary support, General de Gaulle will win the war for France. AVe are sure Britain lnas sent sufficient forces to ensure the taking of Dakar.” A'ICHY STORY.

It is unofficially stated in Vichy that the British made six attempts to land troops under General de Gaulle in West Africa, but all were repulsed. The British commander, it was said, threatened to destroy the fortifications and occupy the city unless the defenders surrendered by 6 a.m. to-dav, but the Governor-General (M. Boisson) declared: “We will fight to the end.” The statement adds that the British sank the submarine Persee, which had holed a British cruiser. Most of the crew were saved. French coastal artillery shot down three British planes. A semi-official announcement in Vichy says the British in an all-night shelling of Dakar killed 100 people. M. Boisson had ample forces to repel a landing, but. the British were immensely superior at sea, having two battleships, four cruisers, six destroyers, and six troopships, carrying 7000 troops. The French had the crippled Richelieu, but considered that the cruiser Georges Leygues and three destroyers were not able to be used. Admiral Darlan 6aid the French ships had begun reprisals. Air attacks concentrated on the reservoir at Dakar were ineffective. RAID ON GIBRALTAR.

It is announced in Vichy that 120 French planes raided Gibraltar as a reprisal for the Dakar action, and dropped 100 bombs, which caused extensive fires in petrol dumps and the arsenal.

A La Linea message states that 30 planes participated in the raid against Gibraltar which lasted 90 minutes. Black smoke from fires envelopod the Rock.

It is officially stated in Gibraltar that 20 or more planes of a French type dropped 100 bombs from 20,000 ft, killing four . persons and injuring twelve. Anti-aircraft guns from the ground and warships shot down at least one plane. One raid lasted four hours, the longest yet.