PROLONGED FIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1940, Page 7

PROLONGED FIRE

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

SHELLING BY LAND GUNS DE GAULLE CONFIDENT

Received 11 p.m. London, September 25. APERATIONS a-t Dakar are continuing, it is believed at London. General de Gaulle's headquarters in- a statement to-day said Dakar's guns had not ceased firing on the free French forces and on the British ships since the start of the operations. General de Gaulle's supporters are confident the action will eventually produce a rally to General de Gaulle throughout French Equatorial Africa. "Even after the armistice there were manifestations tnat French West Africa favoured continuance of the war," said a communique issued by General de Gaulle's headquarters. These reached such proportions that the Vichy Government substituted General Boisson for the Governor, M. Cayla. German and Italian officers who have been going to Dakar since July have assumed control of the air bases, and new German lnfiltrations have occurred since August. "The Germans intended to re-establish an air lme througn Dakar to South America. Dakar is an air keypoint. It has an ultra-modern aerodrome at Ouakam. an aerodrome at Hanne and one farther inland, a military aerodrome at Thyes, and two military aerodromes at St. Louis. Moreover, Dakar is t e railhead for the railway to Nigeria and is most important from the viewpoint of telegraph communications. "French West Africa's commerce has been paralysed since the armistice, resulting in great suffering, particularly regarding food. It was therefore necessary to aid the population by freeing the port of the merchandise lying there, and feeding the European and native pbpulations. General de Gaulle, therefore, with forces of every military, naval and aerial kind, sailed French ships under the French ensign, escorted by battleships of the free French navy. British naval forces attended merely to assure supplementary protection against an air attack which Germany might have inspired and did not participate. "Despite the desire of the population, the local authorities rejected General de Gaulle's ultimatum and opened hostilities, firing on three ships, the Savorgnan de Brazza, the Commandant Duboc and the Commandant Don." The leader of General de Gaulle's supporters, Professor Saurat, said to-day: "If Dakar is taken and Britain gives the necessary support, General de Gaulle will win the war for France. We are sure Britain has. sent sufficient forces to ensure the taking of Dakar." There is no truth in a report emanating from Vichy that any British landing at or near Dakar has been attempted.