WARSHIP TORPEDOED

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1940, Page 7

WARSHIP TORPEDOED

FRENCH CLAIM AT DAKAR Rec. 8.10 p.m. Vichy, Sept. 26. A French naval dispatch to Vichy claims that one of two British battleships that shelled Dakar was torpedoed and left listing badly and that a French cruiser scored direct hits on other warships. It was officially stated early yesterday that Dakar was still holding out. British warships continued the bombardment during the night and the fighting continued at daybreak. A French air squadron attacked the warships, scoring a direct hit on a cruiser. The Frencn losses to noon were 120 members of the services and 65 civilians killed and 138 members of the services and 225 civilians wounded. There were further, heavy casualties in the afternoon. Three British and one French plane were destroyed. The French battleship Richelieu lies helpless in dry dock Theer were three major operations, apart from six unsuccessful British attempts to land troops 80 raiies on either slde of Dakar. British planes operated from an aircraft-carrler and also from Bathurst (Gambla). Bombing attacks wero centred on the port but the native and European sections of the town are so close that the bombs caused widespread casualties. The British United Press Vichy correspondent says that the casualties at Dakar exceeded 600. It was claimed that neither the Rwnelieu not tne snore oaiteries had been damaged. France and Germany are discussmg tne mcident and may speed up the return of the Frencn Government to Paris. Another Vichy report said it appeared the Richelieu was beached but was using her guns.