EVENTS AT DAKAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 267, 9 October 1940, Page 7

EVENTS AT DAKAR

REVIEW BY PREMIER. HIGH OPINION OF DE GAULLE. (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 8. Mr Churchill, in his speech in the House of Commons, dealt fully with the Dakar incident. He explained that this operation was primarily French. “Although we were ready to give it a measure of support which might, in certain circumstances, have been decisive, we were no more anxious than General de Gaulle to get involved in a lengthy and sanguinary contest with the Vichy French. That do Gaulle was right in believing the majority in Dakar were favourable to u,<- jiw Frenchmen I have no doubt. Indeed, 1 think his judgment has been found extremely surefooted, and our opinion of him has been enhanced by everything we have seen of his conduct in circumstances peculiarly perplexing and difficult,” declared the Premier.

“The British Government has no intention whatever of abandoning General de Gaulle’s cause until it is merged—as merged it will be —in the larger cause of France.”

Dealing with the arrival at Dakar of the breach warships carrying Vichy partisans, evidently of the most bitter types, which transformed the situation in a most unfavourable manner, Mr Churchill said these partisans were sent to overawe the population and see to the efficient manning of the powerful shore batteries. He made clear that the policy which the British Government had been pursuing towards the Vichy Trench warships was not to interfere with them umess they appeared to be proceeding to an enemy-controlled j>ort, but obviously while General de Gaulle’s enterprise was proceeding it was especially important to prevent any of them reaching Dakar.

Mr Churchill frankly disclosed to the House that, by a series of accidents and some errors v'iiich had been made the subject of disciplinary action or were now the subject of a formal inquiry, neither the First Sea Lord nor the Cabinet was informed of the approach of ships to the Straits of Gibraltar until it was too late to prevent them passing through. Orders were instantly given to halt them at Casablanca, or if that failed to prevent them approaching Dakar.

Although every effort was made to execute these orders, they failed. The Vichy cruisers were, however, prevented from carrying out their purpose of attacking the “free” French colony of Duala, auu oi xne tour French vessels concerned two succeeded in regaining Dakar and the two’ others were overtaken by British cruisers and were induced to return to Casablanca without any actual violence. SHIPPING LOSSES. Two French submarines which at- 1 tacked the British Fleet were sunk, the crew of one happily being saved. Two of the French destroyers were set on fire, one of the French cruisers was heavily hit. and the Richelieu suffered further heavy damage and casualties. . . On the British side one capital ship and one large cruiser suffered damage, which the Premier said would require considerable attention. He commented : “What irony of fate it is that this fine French fldet which Admiral Darlan shaped for so many vears to fight in the common cause against German aggression should now be the principal obstacle w the liberation of France and her Empire from the Gorman yoke, and should be employed by her German and Italian masters, whose policies contemplate not merely the defeat and humiliation of France, but her final destruction as a great nation.” HOPE FOR VICTORY.

Touching on the possibility of a declaration of war by the Vicliy Government imposed by Germany _ and Italy, Mr Churchill observed ever happens, it is the tide, not the mere eddy, of events which will dominate the French people. Nothing can prevent the increasing abhorrence with which they will regard their German conquerors or the growth of the newborn hope that Britain will be victorious or that a British victory will carry with it the deliverance and restoration of France and her captured people. “That is all, 1 think, it is useful to say at the present time about Dakar or our relations with Vichy—except this: AVe must bo very careful not to let a failure of that kind weaken or hamper our efforts to take positive action and regain the initiative. On the contrary, we must improve and redouble our efforts,” declared Mr. Churchill.