Earlier Messages

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 228, 26 September 1940, Page 7

Earlier Messages

REPORTED REPULSE OF BRITISH DENIED LONDON, Sept. 24. The operation of the free French forces and their accompanying British naval squadron off Dakar, I*-ench West Africa, is continuing, but there is no official statement as to its outcome. There is no truth in a report em mat* ing from Vichy that any British landing at or near Dakar has been attempted, say s a British Official Wireless message. The course of events which occurred after the arrival of General de Gaulle is described in the following communique issued by General de Gaulle’s headquarters in London: “Called to Dakar by numerous Frenchmen anxious to continue the fight at his side, General de Gaulle appeared with French soldiers and sailors before the fortress. Naval authorities at Dakar ordered fire to be opened on General de Gaulle’s emissaries, who had come without weapons in a motor launch flying the tricolour and the white flag pf parliamentaries. Two of these four emissaries. Captains d’Argenlieu and Perrin, were seriously wounded.

“Later, General de Gaulle having attempted to land his troops peacefully, fire was opened by the Dakar authorities on the French sloops Savergnan de Brazza, Commandant Duboc, and Commandant Dom. Several men were killed and many wounded. General de Gaulle then withdraw his troops and ships, not wanting to be a party to a fight between Frenchmen.” As regards subsequent developments, it is stated authoritatively that the operations art continuing. Vichy’s Version. French sources at Vichy allege that a British attempt to land at Rufisque, 25 miles from Dakar, was repulsed. The British Admiral is alleged to have issued an ultimatum for a second time, demanding the right to land troops, v/hixh was refused. The British, it is said, attempted to land 200 troops, but suffered heavily. The French batteries claimed that they drove off the British warships, and the French resistance is intact. Captain de Court Foch, grandson of the Allied Generalissimo in the last war, is one of General de Gaulle’s emissaries at Dakar. The French Minister of the Navy. Admiral Darlan. in an order of the day to the French Navy, states: “The land, sea, and air forces of Africa repulsed attempts at landing, inflicted severe losses on the aggressor warships, and launched reprisals. One British cruiser is reported to have been badly holed off Dakar.” No Reprisals Yet. Marshal Petain has sent the following message to M. Boisson, GovernorGeneral of French West Africa: “France is following with emotion and confidence your resistance against mercenary treason and British aggression.” The German news agency reports that 120 French warplanes stationed in Morocco heavily bombarded Gibraltar as a reprisal for the British bombardment of Dakar. It is officially stated at Vichy that the report of the bombing of Gibraltar is untrue. No reprisals have thus far been taken, but French reprisals are imminent and will be vigorous