PEACEFUL LANDING ATTEMPTS FAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 228, 25 September 1940, Page 7

PEACEFUL LANDING ATTEMPTS FAIL.

CAPTAINS WOVWED.

Dakar Authorities Fire On

Emissaries.

British Official Wireless. (Seed. 1 pjn.) RUGBY, Sept. 24. There is no truth in the report emanating from Vichy that any British landing at or near Dakar has been attempted. The course of events which occurred after the arrival of General de Gaulle is described in the following communique issued by General de Gaulle's headquarters in London: — "Called to Dakar by numerous Frenchmen anxious to continue the fight at his side, General <le Gaulle appeared with French soldiers and sailors before the fortress. '•'The naval authorities at Dakar ordered fire to be opened on General do Gaulle's emissaries, who had come without weapons in a motor launch flying the tricolour and the white flag of Parliamentaries. Two of these four emissaries, Captains Dargenlieu and Perrin, were seriously wounded. "Later, General de Gaulle attempted to land his troops peacefully, but fire was opened by the Dakar authorities on the French sloops, Savorjrnan de Brazza. Commandant Duboc and Commandant Dom. Several men were killed and many -wounded. '•'General de Gaulle then withdrew his troops and ships, not wanting to be party to a fight between Frenchmen." With regard to subsequent developments, it is stated authoritatively that operations are continuing. Captain Secourt Foch, grandson of Mars-hal Foch, Generalissimo in the last war, was one of General de Gaulle's emissaries. Earlier reports from Dakar indicated that fighting had taken place between a British naval squadron and French warships in the port, including the battleship Richelieu—which was disabled there by a British force on July 10, but apparently etill able to use some of her heavy guns—the cruisers Montcalni, Gloire and Georges Leygues and the destroyers L'Audaeieux, Le Malin and Le Fantasque, which arrived there from Toulon about 10 days ago. The British squadron is supporting a Free French force under command of General de Gaulle, which was sent from England to forestall an attempt by the Germans to make use of Dakar *as a war base.