FRENCH FLEET
. AT ALEXANDRIA Joins the Allies
[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 1.5) LONDON, May 31. The French Fleet at Alexandria, comprising at least nine warships, has, after being immobilised since the Franco-German armistice, nearly three years 1 ago, gone over to the side of the Allies. It is commanded by Admiral Godefroy. The Vichy radio announced that the Fleet had gone over the French forces which are fighting with the Allies. The Berlin radio said: “The French Fleet gave in to British and American pressure.”
The French warships in Alexandria comprise one battleship, four heavy cruisers, and at least three destroyers, and one submarine. Since General Giraud established his headquarters in North Africa, it is reported, there had been unofficial contacts maintained between him and Admiral Godefrov. There were four thousand five hundred French sailors repatriated to France when the warships immobilised in 1940, whilst about 1500 sailors remained with the ships.
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Bibliographic details
Grey River Argus, 1 June 1943, Page 5
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153FRENCH FLEET Grey River Argus, 1 June 1943, Page 5
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