DAKAR HOSTILITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24413, 26 September 1940, Page 7

DAKAR HOSTILITIES

THE FIGHTING CONTINUES ULTIMATUM REJECTED BRITISH SHIPS STANDING BY (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 24. (Received Sept. 25, at 10 p.m.) The action at Dakar continues. General de Gaulle’s headquarters in a statement said that Dakar’s guns have not ceased firing on the French forces and British ships since the start of the operations. General de Gaulle’s supporters are confident that the action will eventually produce a rally to General de Gaulle throughout French Equatorial Africa. The following communique was issued from General de Gaulle’s headquarters: “Even after the armistice there were manifestations that French West Africa favoured the continuance of the war. These have reached such proportions that the Vichy Government substituted M. Boisson for the Governor of Cayla. German and Italian officers, who have been going to Dakar since July, assumed control of the air bases. New German infiltrations have occurred since August and the Germans intended to re-establish their air line through Dakar to South America. Dakar is the air keypoint. It lias an ultra-modern aerodrome at Ouakarn, an aerodrome at Hanne. and also one further inland, a military aerodrome at Thyes and two military aerodromes at St. Louis. Moreover, Dakar is the railhead for the railway to Nigeria and most important from the viewpoint of telegraph communications. French West Africa’s commerce has been paralysed since the armistice, resulting in great suffering, particularly with regard to food. It was, therefore, necessary to aid the population by freeing the port of merchandise lying there and feeding the European and native populations. General de Gaulle, therefore, with forces of every military, naval and aerial kind, sailed in French ships under the French ensign and escorted by battleships of the Free French Navy. British naval forces attended merely to assure supplementary protection against air attack, which Germany might have inspired, and did not participate. Despite the desire of the population, the local authorities rejected General de Gaulle’s ultimatum and opened hostilities, firing on three ships, Savorgnan de Brazza, Commandant Duboc and Commandant Don.”

THE BRITISH FORCES SUFFICIENT TO TAKE DAKAR A FRENCH REPRISAL BOMBING OF GIBRALTAR LONDON, Sept. 24. (Received Sept. 25, at 11 p.m.) The leader of General de Gaulle’s supporters, Professor Saurat, said: “ If Dakar is taken and Britain gives the necessary support, General de Gaulle will win the war for France. We are sure that Britain has sent sufficient forces to ensure the taking of Dakar.” A Vichy message says it is unofficially stated that the British made six attempts to land troops under General de Gaulle in West Africa, but all were repulsed. The British commander threatened to destroy the fortifications and occupy the city unless the defenders surrender by 6 a.m. to-day. M. Boisson declared that “ We will fight to the end.” The British sank the submarine Persee, which holed a British cruiser Most of the crew were saved. A French coastal artillery shot down three British planes. A semi-official announcement from Vichy says that the British shelled Dakar all night and killed 100 people. M. Boisson has ample forces to repel a landing, but the British are immensely superior at sea, having two battleships, four cruisers, six destroyers and six troopships carrying 7000 troops. The French have crippled the Richelieu, but they consider the cruiser Georges Leygues and three destroyers are not able to be used.

Admiral Darlan said: “ Our ships have begun reprisals. Air attacks concentrated on the reservoir were ineffective.” It is announced that 120 French planes raided Gibraltar as a reprisal. They dropped 100 bombs, which caused extensive fires in petrol dumps and an arsenal. A Lalinea message states that 30 planes participated in the raid against Gibraltar, which lasted 90 minutes. Black smoke from fires enveloped the Rock.

It is officially stated from Gibraltar that 20 or more planes of the French type dropped 100 bombs from 20,000 feet, killing four and injuring 12 people. Anti-aircraft guns from the ground and warships shot down at least one plane. One raid lasted four hours, the longest yet.