NAVAL BATTLE REPORTED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 292, 9 November 1942, Page 2

NAVAL BATTLE REPORTED

3.45 P.M. EDITION

TRUCE AT ALGIERS (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 8. The.Viehy News Agency to-night reported that a naval battle was raging off Casablanca. The Berlin radio announced the French fleet left Toulon this afternoon to fight British naval units. The French warships at Toulon included the Dunkirque, the Strasbourg, the old battleship Provence, the heavy cruisers Algerie, Colbert, Foch, Dupliox, and four other cruisers, a number of destroyers, submarines, and auxiliary vessels, attended by seaplanes.

The Vichy radio stated that only tlie battleship Nelson and a few destroyers were still at Gibraltar at noon. There was intense air activity over the straits. REVOLTS SUPPRESSED.

An official Vichy statement says that the insurrectionary movement has been suppressed in Casablanca, and General Bethouard, who participated in the rising, hns been arrested. All of the troops except ono battalion loyal to Retain in Casablanca were severely attacked by dive-bombers. The Vichy radio says that the attacks against Casablanca were repulsed. The Rabat radio reported that a local revolt broke out last night in Morocco under the nretoxt that the Americans were on tne point of making a general landing in North Africa. The revolt was totally quelled by 8.30 a.m. without bloodshed, the ringleaders were arrested, and a state of siege was proclaimed. General Nogues has taken over the dofence. Ho hns informed Petain that Morocco will not fail in her dutv and will defend herself.

According to the Vichy radio, Nogues in a message to Vichy declared that the revolt was checked after several difficult hours. General Lascrous, commander of the Moroccan army, and General la Houlie, commander of the air force, who mutinied, have been arrested but have been liberated and have resumed their commands.

Arzeu, which Vichy says is largely occupied, is a port and military station. Safi is an important wool and grain port. The Berlin radio described the landings in Nortlv Africa as a shameless breach of international law. It said President Roosevelt seeks the French colonial empiro for the United States because he lacks strength for a second front in Europe. Authoritative circles in Vichy characterise as pure trickery the message from General Giraud broadcast from an unknown sender on the same wavelength as the Algiers radio, but General Giraud’s broadcast is. regarded in London as genuine. Fighting French circles say that a revolt in Morocco would be natural, although no confirmation of this has so far reached General de Gaulle’s headquarters in London. 'Phe United States Secretary for State (Mr Hull) declared in Washington that the liberation of French Morocco by the. United States military forces carried forward the various purposes and objectives of the United States Government in pursuing its policy towards Vichy. He said he had received no indication of protest from Vichy or of any action Vichy might take, but the United States Government would be content, whatever developed. GENERA L EISENHOWER.

The Official Wireless says that General Eisenhower’s status is clarified in a memorandum issued by the Allied Force headquarters. The latter, it is now revealed, was set up in London some months ago by direction of the combined chiefs of staff in Washington. General Eisenhower was designated Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, and a staff of British and American officers was selected. When the threat of the Axis invasion of North Africa became imminent General Eisenhower and his staff began making plans for the operation now under way. This unified command includes all the land, sea, and air forces, both British and American, engaged in the operation. General Eisenhower’s second-in-command is Major-General Clark, who, like his chief, has taken a prominent part in building up the United States forces in Britain. General Eisenhower has concurrently been in command of all the American troops in tlie European theatre of operations. A London message states that Brigadier-General Doolittle, who led the United States bombing attack on Tokio in April last, is the commander of the Allied air forces in French North Africa. “SALVATION OF FRANCE.” The Official Wireless states that General dc Gaulle, broadcasting on the 8.8. C. French service to-night, said France’s allies had undertaken to bring French North Africa into the war of liberation. They had just started to land enormous forces there. French Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia were to be made the jump-ing-off ground for the liberation of France. France’s American allies were at the head of this undertaking. General de Gaullo also said the moment was well chosen for their British allies, supported by French troops, had just thrown the Germans and Italians out of Egypt. Furthermore their Russian allies had definitely broken the supreme offensive of the enemy on the Volga and in the Caucasus.

General de Gaulle appealed to the French commanders, soldiers, sailors airmen, officials and colonists in North Africa to rise and help the Allies. “Join them without reserve,” ho said. “The France which fights calls upon you. Do not worry about names or slogans; one thing alone count6 —the salvation of our country. All thoso who have the cournge, spring forward, defying the enemy. Despite the cries of traitors who would make you believe our allies want to seize our empire. Forward 1 The great moment has come. The hour of common sense and courage has struck.”