DAKAR EXPEDITION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 256, 26 September 1940, Page 8

DAKAR EXPEDITION

BRITISH INTERVENTION

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

(United Press Association —Copyright., (British Official Wireless.); t (Rec. 1.5 p.m'.) RUGBY, Sept. 25. Jt was learned to-night that the British force which accompanied General de Gaulle to Dakar to lend him support is now being withdrawn from that region following the General’s own withdrawal of his troops and ships. This fact is revealed by a Ministry of Information statement detailing the circumstances 'leading to the Dakar expedition, which says: “General dc Gaulle had good reason to believe from information which reached him that a large proportion of the French population in Senegal supported the free French movement and would welcome his arrival, and that a similar situation might be established there to that which exists in French Equatorial Africa. He therefore proposed to Britain that he should proceed there, with some of the troops at his disposal with the goodwill and support of Britain. Britain was >pll the more ready to afford General do Gaulle this support in view of information which reached the Government that German influence was spreading to Dakar.

■ “Meanwhile, whilst the expedition was on passage the Vichy Government despatched three cruisers from Toulon, which passed through Gibraltar and eventually arrived at Dakar. It is no part of the Government’s policy to interfere with the movements of French men-of-war so long as they are not destined for any ports under German control. CRUISERS INTERCEPTED.

“For this reason no hindrance wijs put in the way of the vessels in question passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. When having done so they pursued a southerly course they were permitted to proceed. They therefore reached Dakar without interference. When they later put to sea again, steering south, it was thought they might be intending to interlere with the situation existing in French Equatorial Africa, which had already declared for General de Gaulle. Ships of the Royal Navy intercepted their passage and insisted on their reversing their course, which they eventually did, two of them returning to Dakar, and the third, which was suffering from engine trouble, being escorted bv one of His Majesty’s ships towards Casablanca.

“On the morning of September 23 the emissaries of General de Gaulle, flying the Tricolour and the white flag, attempted to land at Dakar and met with a hostile reception, being fired on and seriously wounded. The port batteries opened fire on. one of* General de Gaulle’s warships, and subsequently on His Majesty’s ships, which were standing by. “In order to render General de Gaulle support and assistance, if needed, before returning the French fire, the admiral commanding made the following signal in plain language: ‘Will be compelled to return fire unless fire ceases.’ As the fire of the shore batteries did not cease it was returned and both His Majesty’s ships and the shore batteries scored hits and incurred casualties.” SUBMARINES SUNK.

“Fire from the French battleship was joined to that of the shore battries and consequently her fire had to be returned. The British naval commander warned the French authorities that submarines would be engaged if they left the harbour. In spite of this warning three submarines made attacks on our ships and active measures had to be taken against them with the result that two were sunk, but the entire crew of one were fortunately saved and will be repatriated at the first opportunity. “The forces of General do Gaulle attempted to make a landing, which was not successful, and when it became plain that only a major operation of war could secure all of Dakar it was decided to discontinue hostilities, as it had never been the intention of the Government to enter into serious warlike operations against Frenchmen who felt it their duty to obey the commands of the Vichy Government. General de Gaulle himself is most anxious that he should.not cause bloodshed to his fellow countrymen. The forces concerned, therefore, are being withdrawn from the region of Dakar.”