“Baseless Lying Accusation ”
VICHY’S ANGRY PROTEST Received Thursday, l a.m. LONDON, Nov. b. A Vichy message states that a Ministry of Marine communique says: ‘‘Five French merchantmen, the Bangkok. Compiegne, Cap Padaran, Cap Tourane and Commandant Dorise were proceeding to Dakar from Madagascar. They were 200 miles south of Durban on Sunday escorted by the gunboat d ’ Iberville when four British cruisers and six patrolships with premeditation pursued and intercepted the convoy. ‘ ‘ The French merchantmen were carrying colonials returning to France, also supplies for West African natives and the French in unoccupied France, namely 9000 tons of sugar, 5000 tons of coffee, and 2000 tons of rice. There was no contraband and no war material.
“The French Government protested against the aggression, the uselessness of which in \Xie Anglo-German conflict was manifest. The British Admiralty radioed that the convoy was under German orders for the purpose or favouring German contraband. This lying accusation is baseless. ’» The communique added: “The commander of the d’lberville agreed to return to Madagascar, but the French ships were obliged to submit to force. ’ •
It is officially stated in Capetown that South African naval vessels and planes participated in the interception.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 264, 6 November 1941, Page 5
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195“Baseless Lying Accusation ” Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 264, 6 November 1941, Page 5
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