THE FRENCH FLEET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24970, 17 July 1942, Page 2

THE FRENCH FLEET

The negotiations opened by President Roosevelt with the Vichy Government concerning the future of the units of the French Fleet at Alexandria have, of necessity, that ironic touch that must inform any approacli to Laval’s puppet regime. These warships, of which the principal elements are three heavy cruisers and one light cruiser, were “demilitarised” in July, 1940, by agreement between the British and French naval authorities in Egypt. The vessels were placed in a condition in which they could not put to sea, certain portions of their armament were dismantled, and the crews reduced in size, the majority of the personnel being sent to Syria. The threat to Egypt, which has reduced the value of the naval base at Alexandria, provides a sufficient explanation of the desire of the Allies to place these warships well beyond Nazi reach. The Vichy Government, however, is more than reluctant to accept the proposals of Mr Roosevelt, even although they would assure the safe keeping of the vessels. Only one inference is possible from the refusal to agree to a plan which would actually preserve them for post-war France, and would honour Vichy’s previous undertakings to the United States, renewed as recently as the beginning of the present year, that the French Fleet would never he surrendered to the enemies of America. This fleet, although somewhat battered since the war began, remains one of Laval’s principal cards in the dangerous game he is playing with Berlin. Certain units, including an aircraft-carrier, have been immobilised at Martinique, but the bulk of the fleet is believed to he tied up at French home ports and at Dakar and Casablanca. As to its exact effective strength there can be only surmise. A recent American survey stated that the giant battleship I Richelieu, which was badly damaged | in the Anglo-French attack on j Dakar, remains immobile in that port as a makeshift fortress. Its 35,000-ton sister ship, Jean Bart, which was towed to Casablanca at the outbreak of the war, is probably not yet completed; but Strasbourg, Dunkerque and Provence, all over 20.000 tons, are at Toulon, and may have been repaired after the hammering they received at Oran. In addition, Vichy possesses perhaps eleven cruisers, some forty destroyers and sixty submarines. This considerable fleet could, in Hitler's hands, provide the Axis with at least a theoretical balance of seapower. Its value in either the Mediterranean or the Atlantic would

be inestimable. He is now stated by a shrewd United States observer, Mr Henry Taylor, to have committed himself to widespread naval adventures as part of his plan for world domination, and to be endeavouring to build up both a navy and naval personnel in the midst of his other preoccupations and the thunder of R.A.F. bombs. The existence, practically within his grasp, of a ready-made French Fleet must, in the circumstances, be a sore provocation. Laval's conduct does not permit the belief that either respect for France’s old Ally or promises given to the United States would prevent him from making over the fleet to his dictator in Berlin. Either he is using it still as a bargaining weapon, or the French sailors have a sense of loyalty to their own country and to Great Britain which cannot be shaken.