SURRENDER OR SCUTTLE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21157, 5 July 1940, Page 7

SURRENDER OR SCUTTLE

BRITISH ULTIMATUM REJECTED SEVERAL FRENCH SHIPS IN FLAMES ORDERED TO FIGHT THEIR WAY OUT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received July 5, 11.50 a.m.) GENEVA, July 4 A French communique declared that British warships arrived yesterday morning off Mere Elkebir and gave Admiral Gensoul a six-hour ultimatum to surrender or scuttle. British seaplanes laid magnetic mines at the entrance to the harbour before the expiry of the ultimatum. Admiral Gensoul rejected the ultimatum, whereupon the British opened fire. “ This aggression is more odious because it was committed by Allies of yesterday,” says the communique. The French returned the fire. The French Government has now ordered the French warships at Alexandria to sail immediately for a French port, fighting their way out if necessary. It also has ordered French warships on the high seas to halt all British merchantmen and fire if attacked. BERLIN, July 4 The official news agency stated that the British squadron in the Oran battle comprised Dreadnoughts, an aircraftcarrier, and three cruisers, also a flotilla of light destroyers. The British Fleet opened fire at long range. The French battleships Dunquerque and Provence, and the flotillaleader Mogador are in flames in Oran Harbour. The battleship Bretagne struck a magnetic mine and has been blown up. The battleship Strasbourg, five flotilla-leaders, and a number of torpedo-boats and submarines broke through the British encirclement. The German wireless, referring to Hitler’s permission for scuttling, said: “This proves that Germany does not intend to take possession of the French warships. Germany only wants to prevent the ships from participating in the war against Germany. It added that the French Government ordered the warships at Alexandria to attempt to break through to Bizerta, and also ordered French ships lying in ports in Britain to force their way to Brest.