THE ITALIAN FLEET

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

THE ITALIAN FLEET

MR CHURCHILL’S ANNOUNCEMENT

PROCEEDING TO HELP FRENCH ORDERS GIVEN TO FIRE ON BRITISH HITLER GIVES PERMISSION TO SINK SHIPS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) GENEVA, July 4 It is reported from Berlin that the Italian war fleet is proceeding under forced draught to aid the French fleet off Oran. BERLIN, July 4 The radio stated that British warships arrived at Mersel Kebir and gave the French a six-hour ultimatum, simultaneously laying magnetic mines in the harbour entrance. Hitler gave permission to France to sink the French ships when necessary to prevent them falling into British hands. A radio quotes a report from Geneva that France ordered French ships on the high seas to halt all British ships and return British fire. According to this report a battle is also progressing between the British and the French at Casablanca. German reports add that the battleships Dunkerque and Provence and the flotilla-leader Mogodor were set on fire. The radio says the French fleet at Alexandria has been ordered to attempt to break through and reach Bizerte.

requirements. But two battleships, two light cruisers and some submarines,. including the very large one, the Surcouf, eight destroyers and approximately 200 smaller but

extremely useful mine-sweeping and anti-submarine craft, which lay for the most part in Portsmouth and Weymouth, were boarded after notice had been given wherever possible to their captains. British and French Casualties “This operation was successfully carried out without resistance or bloodshed, except in one instance, where a scuffle arose through a misunderstanding in the submarine Surcouf, in which one British seaman was killed and two British officers and one rating were wounded. One French officer was also killed and one wounded. “Eight or nine hundred French sailors expressed an ardent desire to continue the war. Several French submarines also joined the British Navy independently.” In the Mediterranean Turning to the Mediterranean, Mr Churchill said: “There was at Alexandria a strong British Fleet, also four French cruisers and a number of smaller ships, besides French battleships. These have been informed that they cannot be permitted to leave harbour and fall within the power of the German conquerors of France. Negotiations and discussions have taken place and measures have now been taken to ensure that those ships, which are | commanded by a very gallant ad- : miral, shall be sunk or otherwise ! made to comply with our wishes. ‘‘The anguish of this process which has naturally caused the British and French officers concerned may be readily imagined when I inform the House that only this morning, during an air raid on Alexandria, some French | ships fired heavily and effecj tively with us against the coml mon enemy. | “We shall, of course, offer the , fullest facilities to all French officers I and men at Alexandria who wish to continue the war and will provide | for them and maintain them, and ! have promised to repatriate the rest.” ! Most Serious Fart of Story j Mr Churchill then told what he described as the “most serious part of the story,” relating to the portion of the French Fleet at Oran and adjacent to Mere Elkebir, on the French frontier of Morocco. Yester- , day morning a British officer went to the French Admiral Gensoul, and, being refused an interview, put be--1 fore him a document, the operative i paragraphs of which Mr Churchill i read. The fleet was asked to comply ! with one of three alternatives—i (1) To sail with us and continue to fight against the enemy. (2) To sail with reduced crews under British control to a British port. (3) To sail the French ships to ' | some French port in the West Indies,

where they could be demilitarised or perhaps entrusted to the United States. If these offers were refused within six hours, the Admiral was requested to sink his ships, failing which whatever force was considered necessary to prevent the ships from falling into German and Italian hands would be taken. The battle squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Somerville arrived at Oran two hours after the handing over of the document. Mr Churchill then gave details of the encounter which followed Admiral Gensoul’s refusal to comply and announcement of his intention to fight. Mr Churchill said: “The Dunquerque, which slipped away toward Toulon and suffered at least one hit from a torpedo, will be out of action for many months. Italians Kept Out of Way “The Italian Navy, for whose reception we had also made preparations and which is considerably stronger numerically than the fleet we used at Oran, kept prudently out of the way. However, we trust their turn will come during the operat’ons which we shall pursue to secure effectual command of the Mediterranean. The British Fleet is in all military respects intact and ready for further action/’