ACTION CONTINUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1940, Page 5

ACTION CONTINUES

FREE FRENCH & VICHY REPORTS HOPES OF EVENTUAL RALLY TO DE GAULLE. THE BOMBING OF GIBRALTAR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 24. The action at Dakar continues. General de Gaulle’s headquarters in a statement said that Dakar’s guns had not ceased firing on the French forces and British ships since the start of the operations. GeneraLde Gaulle’s supporters are confident that the action will eventually produce a rally to de Gaulle throughout French West Africa. The following communique was issued: “Even after the armistice there were manifestations that French West Africa favoured the continuance of the war. These reached such proportions that the Vichy Government substituted M. Boisson ' for Governor Cayla. German and Italian officers, who had been going to Dakar since July, assumed control of the air bases, and new German infiltrations had occurred

since August. GERMAN SCHEMES. “The Germans intended to re-estab- , lish the air line through Dakar to South America. Dakar is an air keypoint. It has an ultra-modern aerodrome at Ouakam, an aerodrome at . Hanne and also one further inland, a military aerodrome at Thyes and two military aerodromes at St Louis. More- ' over, Dakar is a railhead for the rail- ’ way to Nigeria and is most important from the viewpoint of telegraph com- ’ munications. “French West Africa’s commerce has been paralysed since the armistice, re-, suiting 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 populations. “General de Gaulle, therefore, with forces of every military, naval, and aerial kind, sailed in French ships under the French ensign, escorted by battleships of the Free French Navy. British naval forces attended merely to assure supplementary protection against any 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 the three ships, Savorgnan de Brazza, Commandant Duboc and Commandant Don.” 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 has sent sufficient forces to ensure the taking of Dakar.” ALLEGATIONS BY VICHY. It is 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, it was said, threatened to destroy the fortifications

and occupy the city unless the defenders surrendered by 6 a.m. today, but the Governor-General, M. Boisson, declared: “We will fight to the end.” The statement adds that the British sank the submarine Persee. which had holed a British cruiser. Most of the crew were saved. French coastal artillery shot down three British planes. A semi-official announcement . in Vichy says the British in an all-night shelling of Dakar killed 100 people. M. Boisson had ample forces to repel a landing, but the British were immensely superior at sea, having two battleships, four cruisers, six destroyers, and six troopships, carrying 7000 troops. The French had the crippled Richelieu, but considered that the cruiser Georges Leygues and three destroyers were not able to be used. Admiral Darlan said the French ships had begun reprisals. Air attacks concentrated on the reservoir at Dakar - were ineffective. ; It was announced that 130 French , planes raided Gibraltar, which caused • extensive fires in petrol dumps and j the arsenal. ' ' A La Linea message states that 30 ( planes participated in a raid against ' Gibraltar which lasted 90 minutes. f Black smoke from fires enveloped the rock. It is officially stated in Gibraltar that 20 or more planes of a French type dropped 100 bombs from 20,000 feet, killing four persons and injuring twelve. Anti-aircraft guns from the ground and warships shot down at least one plane. One raid lasted four hours, the longest yet. ( ANOTHER RAID , I REPORTED BY GERMAN AGENCY. 1 I (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day. 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN. September 25. s The official News Agency stated that i French planes continued the bombing t of Gibraltar in the morning. 1