NAZI CONTROL OF DAKAR

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 5

NAZI CONTROL OF DAKAR

REVERSE EXPLAINED IN LONDON PEOPLE FRUSTRATED BY GERMANS POLITICAL CIRCLES ARE DISAPPOINTED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received September 27, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 26.

General Charles de Gaulle’s headquarters said that the operations at Dakar were never intended to become a naval and military action. General de Gaulle knew that the great majority of the population had resolved to rally to him. German infiltration frustrated their object and German pressure forced the authorities to fire on General de Gaulle’s forces.

Referring to the setback suffered by General de Gaulle’s first attempt to seize the initiative in Africa, The Times says that in Africa the Vichy Government has shown fight, if only in defence of its chains. At the other side of the Eastern Hemisphere, however, where.it is not stiffened by the support of its masters, the Vichy Government has allowed the firm stand at first made by its commander on the spot to fall away into collapse. Indo-China occupies a strategic position of the first importance in the Far East and its fate cannot be a matter of indifference to either Britain or the United States, while, of course, the interest of China is immediate. Helpless as Vichy would have been at this distance if it was unassisted, it is clear that in making a firm resistance to the Japanese encroachments it would not have stood alone. THREAT TO BURMA ROAD “The precise extent of the concessions it has made has not been made public, but it is certain that a new and grave threat to the Burma Road has been opened, and no one who knows the methods of Tokyo supposes that the whittling away of the French Empire in Asia will cease at the point laid down in the agreement. “This policy of surrender is bringing no less shame on the Vichy Government in its application to the Mediterranean lands. The people of Syria are showing that they resent the dishonour of France more than do the men who occupy seats of authority. Rather than submit to the Italians, who, since the rape of Albania, have ranked as the arch enemies of Islam, Bodouin soldiers are skipping away on their camels from the camps near Damascus in search of liberty, and many try to achieve it in union with their old rival, the Arabs of Iraq. No less significant is the movement among the Senegalese sharpshooters of what was General Maxune Weygand’s army to General de Gaulle’s colours.”

Political circles in London consider that the Dakar move, once begun, should have been carried on to its conclusion.

The New York Times says that Britain is bound to suffer in prestige as a result of the withdrawal. It describes the attempt as a fiasco and says that as a result the Axis partners are bound to become bolder. Dakar constitutes a serious threat to Britain and to America. In America there is strong criticism of the Vichy Government for its apparent willingness to co-operate with Germany. The Vichy correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that it is authoritatively stated that the Dakar incident is closed as far as the French are concerned.

CLAIMS IN VICHY It is officially announced in Vichy that the French submarine Bevezers torpedoed H.M.S. Resolution, which withdrew listing and without firing. The Richelieu fired her 14-inch guns, hitting H.M.S. Barham. French planes shot down a British plane which was spotting for the naval guns. The British warships left Dakar at 5.30 p.m. on September 25. The following message was received by the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, from Duala today:—

“Frenchmen in the Cameroons who have learned of the recent events at Dakar take this opportunity to affirm to the British Prime Minister their determination to continue the struggle against Germany side by side with the British Government. In their view, Frenchmen subservient to Vichy are Hitler’s allies and are accepting the leadership of traitors who will one day pay dearly for their treason.” Mr Churchill replied: “I received the telegram sent by representatives in the French Cameroons of ex-servicemen of the last and present war, of officers and soldiers of the forces, and administrators, civil servants, doctors, police, merchants, colonists, planters and missionaries declaring their intention to fight on until victory is won. In the name of the British Government I wish to thank them for their encouraging message and to tell them of the pleasure it gives me to know that they will continue the struggle side by side with the British Empire until France is freed and restored, and the shadow of German tyranny driven from the face of the earth for ever.”

ROYAL AIR FORCE RAIDS TOBRUK

(Received September 27,10.30 p.m.) CAIRO, September 26.

A Royal Air Force communique states that a large force of bombers severely damaged the harbour and foreshore at Tobruk, directly hitting barracks, wharf buildings, and a motor transport and starting a large fire north of the wharves. All the raiders returned safely. We reconnoitred the Western Desert and effectively raided Assab, Macacca, Berbers and also Metemma nearly hitting three grounded planes and starting a fire which was visible 50 miles away. BRITISH SUBMARINES ACTIVE RUGBY, September 26. British submarines, states an Admiralty communique, continue to search out and take toll of enemy shipping. Full information of their successes cannot be given without endangering their security, but it can now be stated that the British submarine H 49 lately attacked a convoy of eight supply vessels with torpedoes, two of which found their mark. The submarine Tuna reports the destruction of a large supply vessel screened by two enemy destroyers.