BRITISH FORCES NOT ENGAGED

Southland Times, Issue 24241, 26 September 1940, Page 7

BRITISH FORCES NOT ENGAGED

Keen Interest Taken In America FRENCH AIRCRAFT RAID GIBRALTAR

(United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 25, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 25. Operations are continuing at Dakar, capital of French West Africa, where General Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free Frenchmen, went with a force of French sailors and soldiers in response to a call from his supporters. The only further information available comes from Vichy and that, of course, is not reliable.

Communiques issued in Vichy make no distinction between the British and French forces at Dakar, but it is officially stated in London that the British forces are taking no part in the operations. They accompanied General de Gaulle only to protect his forces against Italian or German interference. The Vichy Government states that casualties at Dakar number 185 killed and 363 wounded, mostly soldiers and sailors.

The American Press is following the operations with keen interest. The New York Times and The New York Herald-Tribune comment on the tragedy of the Germans setting Frenchmen against Frenchmen. The New York Times says that Hitler cannot build a European Empire on civil war. The New York Herald-Tribune says that Dakar could be used as a bridgehead against America and it traces the pitiful story of France since the surrender at Bordeaux. “He who is not against Hitlerism is with it,” it states.

Aeroplanes of a French type raided Gibraltar, according to a statement by the authorities there. There were 20 or more aircraft and they flew in from many directions and dropped 100 bombs indiscriminately from 20,000 ft. Twelve persons were killed and 100 wounded. Buildings and roads were damaged and three fires were started, but they were extinguished. The raid lasted four hours.

A savage decree against sympathizers of General de Gaulle has been issued in Vichy. It provides for the setting-up of courts-martial which can impose the death sentence on any person who even spreads information about the Free French forces.