SAFE IN NEW YORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 February 1943, Page 3

SAFE IN NEW YORK

FRENCH BATTLESHIP RICHELIEU CRUISER AND DESTROYERS ALSO Gr.uSS OCEAN. VALUABLE ADDITION TO ALLIED SEA POWER. LONDON, February 15. The famous French battleship Richelieu, crippled but a valuable addition to the sea power of the United Nations, has reached New York from Dakar. She was escorted by several American destroyers. The French cruiser Montcalm and some destroyers have also arrived in the United States. ■ The Richelieu not only had to dodge the U-boat pack but had to ride out the toughest Atlantic gale some of her crew ever remembered. After refitting these warships will join, the Allies’ forces. French naval forces now under General Giraud's command are: Three | battleships,- an aircraft-carrier, three i heavy cruisers, six light cruisers, nine destroyers, 10 sloops and 14 submarines. WILD WEATHER ON ATLANTIC PASSAGE. PATCHED UP BATTLESHIP DRIVES THROUGH GALE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, February 15. The Richelieu and her consorts had ahazardous three weeks’ Atlantic crossing. The squadron was escorted by American and French destroyers, and dodged a pack of enemy submarines while riding out the toughest gale the crews had ever experienced. Only three of the Richelieu's engines were working, and at her stern a temporary hull of great timbers had been built over a forty feet rent in her side, made by British depth charges and torpedoes at Dakar in July, 1940. Vice-Admiral Fenard, head of the French naval mission, representing General Giraud, said the Richelieu and the accompanying vessels would be repaired in East Coast ports, and, when able to go to sea again, the smaller vessels would be used against enemy submarines. Admiral Fenard added that the French crews were happy to be fighting on the side bf the United Nations, and that the ships might be used to keep open the African sea lanes, but would'operate in any waters decided upon by the Allies. Regarding the scuttling of the French Fleet, he said that operation had been prepared since the Armistice. There never was any idea of the delivery of the ships to Germany. The French warships which had been immobilised at Martinique and Alexandria since the Armistice eventually would all be used in the service of the United Nations. All the units at Dakar were now in action, or would be repaired and in active service shortly .and’this meant that all units of the French Fleet not scuttled at Toulon were now in Allied hands. The air-craft-carrier Bearn would shortly be brought to the United States from Martinique for repairs, as would also other vessels needing repairs now immobilised at Alexandria. He added that when he visited Alexandria a couple of months ago he found the morale of the French officers and mefi. extremely high. .