CLOSE CO-OPERATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21575, 10 February 1940, Page 11

CLOSE CO-OPERATION

BRITISH AND FRENCH NAVIES The close co-operation of the French and British navies is likely to prove one of the decisive factors in the war. Anglo-French naval co-opera-tion was planned before the outbreak of war. When war came plans for close navel co-operation between the Allied navies were in existence and ready to be put into immediate execution.

When war broke out, the French Navy at once took over the control of certain patrol zones. In these zones units of the French Navy were constantly at sea. hunting German submarines, protecting the sea-borne commerce of the Allies, and sweeping German trade off the seas. It was very soon realised that the efficiency and strength of the French Navy would allow of it playing an even more important part. The French patrol zones were therefore widened, and largely merged into the British zones, so that French and British patrols are working in a closely dovetailed scheme for maintaining their command of the seas.

The French Navy is also giving assistance in the provision of warship escorts for the protection of mercantile convoys. Some convoys are operated entirely by the French Navy. Others are under the protection of the French Navy during one part of their voyage. Others again have escorts provided by both the French and British fleets. The composition of the French Navy is particularly well suited to its task of hunting, patrolling and convoying in co-operation with the British Navy. In particular the 32 French light cruisers—very fast and powerful ships with excellent sea-keeping qualities—are proving immensely valuable. The co-operation of the two Allied navies in control of the seas is constantly under review, and there is reason to believe that the French Navy's contribution to the Allied war effort at sea may increase still further.