AVOID FRENCH BLOODSHED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23772, 27 September 1940, Page 7

AVOID FRENCH BLOODSHED

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF OPERATION B*y Telegraph—Press Association——Copyright LONDON, Sept. 26 It is officially stated that in order to avoid shedding the blood of Frenchmen, the Free French and British supporting forces have been withdrawn from the operations against Dakar. The following statement has been issued in London by the Mitaistry of Information: — "General de 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 situation might be established! there similar to that which exists in French Equatorial African 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 all the more ready to afford General de Gaulle this support as information had reached the Government that German was spreading to Dakar, 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 as long as they are mot destined for any ports under German control. Intercepted South of Dakar "For this reason no hindrance was put in the way of the vessels in question passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. V/hen, having done so, they pursued a southerly course, they were permitted to proceed. They therefore reached Dakar without interference. Wlien they later put to sea again, steaming south, it was thought that they might be intending to interfere with the situation existing in French Equatorial Africa, which already had 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. A third, which had engine trouble, was escorted by one of His Majesty's ships to Casablanca, Atlantic port of French Morocco.

British Warning to Commander "On Monday morning last, September 23, emissaries of General de Gaulle, flying the tricolour and white flag, attempted to land at Dakar, and met with a hostile reception. They were fired on and seriously wounded. The port batteries opened fire on one of General de Gaulle's warships and subsequently on British ships which were standing by in order to render General de Gaulle support and assistance if needed. "Before returning the French fire the British 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 the British, ships and the shore batteries scored hits and incurred casualties.

Sinking of Two Dakar Submarines "The fire from the French battleship Richelieu was joined to that of the shore batteries 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, but in spite of this warning three submarines made attacks on the British ships. "Active measures had to be taken against them, with the result that two of the submarines were sunk, but the entire crew of one was fortunately saved, and will be repatriated at the first opportunity. "The forces of General de Gaulle attempted to make a landing, which was not successful and, when it became plain that only a major operation of war could secure the fall of Dakar, it was decided to discontinue hostilities. The decision was taken because it has never been Britain's policy to enter into serious military operations against Frenchmen who felt it their duty to obey the commands of the Vichy Government. —, • "General de Gaulle himself was most anxious that he should not be the cause of bloodshed to his fellow countrymen. The forces concerned are therefore now being withdrawn from the region of Dakar." »