IMPORTANCE OF DAKAR

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

IMPORTANCE OF DAKAR

COURSE OF WAR MAY BE AFFECTED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 25, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 24. The leader of General de Gaulle’s supporters, Professor Saurat, said: “If Dakar is taken and Britain gives the necessary support, General de Gaulle will win the war for France. We are sure Britain sent sufficient forces to ensure the taking of Dakar.” It was unofficially stated in Vichy that the British made six attempts to land troops under General de Gaulle in West Africa, but all were repulsed. The British commander threatened to destroy the fortifications and occupy the city unless the defenders surrendered at 6 a.m. today. The Governor-General (M. Boisson) declared: “We will fight to the end.” The British sank the submarine Persee, which holed a British cruiser. Most of the crew were saved. The French coastal artillery shot down three British planes. A semi-official announcement says that the British, in an all-night shelling of Dakar, killed 100 persons. M. Bois-j son, it was stated, has ample forces to repel the landing but the British are | immensely superior at sea, having two i battleships, four cruisers, six destroyers and six troopships carrying 7000 troops. The French have crippled the Richelieu but consider the cruiser Georges Leygues and three destroyers not able to be used.

The Vichy Minister of Marine, Admiral Jean Darlan, said: “Our ships have begun reprisals. Air attacks concentrated on a reservoir were ineffective.” He announced that 120 French planes had raided Gibraltar as a reprisal and dropped 100 bombs which caused extensive fires in petrol dumps and an arsenaL

A message from La Linea states that 30 planes participated in the raid against Gibraltar, which lasted 90 minutes. Black, smoke from fires enveloped the Rock. “ATTEMPT REPULSED” French sources in Vichy allege that a British attempt to land at Rufisque, twenty-five miles from Dakar, was repulsed. The British Admiral is alleged to have Issued an ultimatum for a second time demanding the right to land troops. This was refused and the British attempted to land 2000 troops. They suffered heavily. The French batteries claim that they drove off the warships and that French resistance is intact.

Captain de Court-Foch, grandson of Marshal Foch, was one of General de Gaulle’s emissaries at Dakar.

Admiral Darlan, in an order of the day io the French Navy, states: The land, sea and air forces in Africa repulsed attempts at landing and inflicted severe losses on the aggressor warghips and launched reprisals. Marshal Petain has sent the following message to M. Boisson as follows:

“France is following with emotion and confidence your resistance against mercenary treason and British aggression.”