AIR KEY POINT

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 316, 27 September 1940, Page 3

AIR KEY POINT

FRENCH AFRICA FIGHT FOR DAKAR (News by Cable.) * LONDON, Sept. 25. It was officially stated in Vichy early to-day that Dakar was still holding out. "British warships continued the bombardment during the night,” continued the Vichy statement. "Fighting continued at daybreak. A French air squadron attacked the warships yesterday morning directly hitting a cruiser. The French losses to noon totalled 120 servicemen and G 5 civilians killed and 138 servicemen and 225 civilians wounded. There were further heavy casualties in the afternoon. "Three British and one French planes were destroyed. The Richelieu lies helpless in drydock. "There were three major operations yesterday apart from six unsuccessful British attempts to land troops 80 miles on either side of Dakar. British planes operated from an aircraft carrier. Bombing attacks were centred on the port, but the native and European quarters of the town were so close that the bombs caused widespread casualties.”

The Vichy correspondent of the British United Press says that the casualties at Dakar exceed, 600. He says it is claimed that neither the Richelieu nor the shore batteries have been damaged. France and Germany are discussing the incident which, it is. suggested, may speed up the return of the French Government to Paris. French bombers attacking British warships operated from the base at Wakem.

PLAN ABANDONED DAKAR OCCUPATION . DECISION OF DE GAULLE UNEXPECTED TREND LONDON, Sept. 25. It is authoritatively stated that the leader of the Free F rench Forces, General de Gaulle, has decided to abandon his operations for the occupation of Dakar. It is understood the decision was made because the operations threatened to .develop in a direction not envisaged when the exped tion was launched. A report from Vichy to-day stated that the Richelieu had been beached, but was using her guns. The Vichy Government has received no news from Dakar since yesterday afternoon, when bombs put the local radio station out of action, and is unable to say whether General de Gaulle’s forces gained a footing. It was officially stated in Vichy to-day that retaliating for the Dakar action a number of planes yesterday dropped 45 tons of bombs on Gibraltar hitting the arsenal, the south mole and one big ship. Heavy smoke was observed. The bombs caused far greater damage than any past Italian or German raid stated the Vichy announcement. The raid would not be the last reprisal if the British continued to shell Dakar. The Berlin news agency to-day stated that French planes continued the bombing of Gibraltar this morning.