DAKAR SETBACK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24415, 28 September 1940, Page 11

DAKAR SETBACK

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE LEADER’S STATEMENT FIGHTING NOT INTENDED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 27. (Received Sept. 27, at 8.30 p.m.) General De Gaulle’s headquarters, in a statement, said the operations at Dakar were never intended to become a naval or military action. Genera] De Gaulle knew that the great majority of the population were resolved to rally to him, but German infiltration frustrated their object. German pressure forced the authorities to fire on Genera] De Gaulle’s forces. It is officially announced from Vichy that the French submarine Bevezers torpedoed H.M.S. Resolution, which withdrew listing and without firing. The Richelieu fired its I4in guns, hitting H.M.S. Berham. French planes shot down a British nlane spotting for the naval guns The British warships left Dakar at 5.30 p.m. on September 25. Referring to the setback suffered by General De Gaulle’s first attempt to seize the initiative in Africa, The Times says: “In Africa Vichy has shown fight, if only in defence of its chains. At the other side of the eastern hemisphere, however, where they are not stiffened by the support of their masters, the Vichy Government has allowed the firm stand at first made by its commander on the spot to fall away into collapse. Indochina occupies u strategic position of first importance in the Far East, and its fate cannot be a matter of indifference to either Britain or the United States, while, of course, the interest of China is immediate. Helpless as Vichy would have been at this distance if it were unassisted it is clear that in making firm resistance to Japanese encroachments it would not have stood alone. The precise extent of the concessions it has made has not been made public, but it is certain that a new grave threat to th,‘ Burma road has been opened, and no one who knows the methods of Tokio supposes that the whittling away of the French empire in Asia will cease at the point laid down in the agreement. “ The policy of surrender is bringing no less shame on the Vichy Government in its application to Mediterranean lands. The people of Syria are showing that they resent the dishonour of France more than do the men who occupy seats of authority. Rather than submit to the Italians, who since the rape of Albania have ranked as the arch enemies of Islam, Bedouin soldiers are slipping away on their camels from camps near Damascus in search of liberty, and many try to achieve it in union with their old rivals, the Arabs of Iraq. No less significant is the movement among the Senegalese sharpshooters of what was General Weygand’s arm” for General De Gaulle.” Blind to True Interest Speaking at a luncheon given to him by the Free French newspaper France, which started publication a month ago, the Minister of Information, Mr A, Duff Cooper, said: “At the moment across the Channel a dark cloud dims the mind of your compatriots and blinds them to their true interest, the source of their future prosperity, and the very personality of those who, arms in hand, are defending their integrity, their essential liberties, and the future of their children.” Strong Free Frenchmen, Mr Duff, Cooper added, had their eyes open, and France, difficult though its task was, would fill a vital need in tightening the brads between the French and British which were an essential condition for freedom in Europe and the world. Cameroons Support Britain The following message has been received by Mr Churchill from Duala to-day;—“ Frenchmen in the Cameroons who have learnt of the recent events at Dakar take this opportunity to affirm to the British Prime Minister their determination to continue the struggle against Germany side by side with the British Government. In their view, Frenchmen subservient to Vichy are Hitler’s allies, and are accepting the leadership of traitors who will one day pay dearly for their treason.” Mr Churchill replied: “ I have received a telegram sent by representatives in the French Cameroons of ex-servicemen of the last and present wars, of officers and soldiers of the forces, administrators, civil servants, doctors, police, merchants, colonists, planters and missionaries declaring their intention to fight on until victory is won. In the name of the British Government, I wish to thank them for their encouraging message and tell them of the pleasure it gives me to know that they will continue the struggle side by side with the British Empire until France is freed and restored and the shadow of German tyranny is driven from the face of the earth for ever.