FRENCH WARSHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1940, Page 6

FRENCH WARSHIPS

CONVOYING MERCHANTMEN TO MARSEILLES WITH FOOD AND MATERIALS FROM ALGIERS. SERIOUS QUESTION FOR BRITAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day 12.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 13. The decision of the Petain Government to order the French Navy to convoy French merchantmen! carrying raw materials and food to Marseilles and other French ports has seriously strained relations between France and Britain,” says the “New York Times” Lisbon correspondent. II is learned on unimpeachable authority that the French have been breaking the British blockade in this manner for several weeks. A considerable quantity of food has been convoyed from Algiers, and several convoys have not been molested when passing Gibraltar. The quantity of raw materials taken to France in this way is not sufficiently large, as yet to suggest that the Trench are gathering materials for the Germans, but Britain’s fear that it may be the beginning of an important traffic is compelling her to take action to prevent the riddling of the blockade. B is understood that Mr. Churchill fears that interference with French convoys might force France into war with Britain. France insists only on carrying food for her own existence. The establishment by the Germans of a second and third line of air bases deep in France, some in unoccupied France may necessitate British bombing of that area, even at the risk of bringing France into the war.