1940-07-10 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 10, 1940

Mr. Alexander's Story Of Dakar Drama DARING NAVAL GOVERNOR

EXPLOIT

OF MACAO

EVACUEES PASSES

INCREASED

Richelieu No Longer BY ONE

An Immediate Peril

THE STORY OF HOW THE GREAT FRENCH BATTLESHIP · RICHE- ́ ́LIEU WAS PUT OUT OF ACTION BY DEPTH CHARGES AND AIR ATTACKS WAS TOLD IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS YESTER- DAY BY MR. A. V. ALEXANDER, FIRST LORD OF THE AD- MIRALTY.

The 35,000-ton battleship Richelieu lay at

anchor in Dakar, French West Africa. BRITISH

She had just been completed and was the most formidable warship in the world available for active operations.

in

Dr. Tamagnini Barbosa, Governor of Macao, died dt 7.25 this morning after a long illness' says a Reuter tele- gram from the Portuguese

colony. The families of Ser- vicemen who evacuat- ed Hong Kong last week have increased by one!

This was revealed in a cable received yesterday from Mani- la announcing the birth of a daughter to Mrs. Platt, wife of

AIDTOCHINA Sergeant Platt, of the

URGED

The British Government decided that steps must be taken to ensure that she did not fall into enemy hands in a condition

A The Dean of Canter- which she could be used against us.

at the force was sent to Dakar, with orders to bury, speaking

China Campaign Com- present to the French Admiral there pro- posals similar to those presented at Oran.mittee dinner in London last night, declared Bri- Mr. Alexander, who was asked No Alternative

to

R.A.M.C.

It was the first birth of several expected among wives of Ser- vicemen who left the Colony for the Philip- pines on July 1.

"Finally, as it became clear theain should give assistR FAST

received with French authorities did not pro-ance to China, even now.

pose to accede to any of the Bri-

the

Prime Minister described painful but very necessary ac-

vious day to prevent units the French fleet lying in tish and North African from passing into enemy trol.

of

ports

NAVY CLASH

DENIED

LOCAL

Aged 59, Dr. Barbosa be- came a commanding figure in Portuguese Far Eastern af- fairs. He was twice a widow- er and is survived by a mar- ried daughter and five sons, ghe of whom is at present in Macao.

The local Portuguese commun- ity were shocked at the news of

the death of the Macao Governo this morning.

The Portuguese flag at the Hong the Bank of East Asia was flown Kong Portuguese Consulate in at half mast immediately

after

the sad news was received.

Condolence messages were sen to Macao by the Consulate and Portuguese personalities.

Dr. Barbosa had just complet ed plans to fly to Europe for me- dical treatment and he was to ar tive in the Colony to-day to board the Clipper for America.

Governor's Message The following telegram was sen by the Acting Governor of Hong Kong

to the British Consul Macao-Please convey to the Gov ernment of Macao the deep sense of grief which this Colony feels in the death of Dr. Barbosa.

To me personally the loss of friend of many years' standing a very real sorrow.

I shall be glad if you will per sonally represent me at funera land furnish a wreath in my name

200 CHINESE REGISTER

the

by a private notice question make a statement on the naval situation, was

"It would be for our own safe- cheers as he rose to speak.

"The House will remember," tish suggestions, he had no alter-ty, as well as for moral good, to native but to carry out his painful help the Chinese who are engaged he began, "that on July 5 the duty in the early hours of July 8: in a struggle kindred to our own. not give an "The attack upon the Richelieu "England should

inch to Japan' in"appefisement."." was two-fold. tion we had taken the pre- "A ship's boat under the com- The dinner was attended by

the Chinese and Russian Am bassadors, and Mr. Quo Tal-chi, Bri-mand of Lt.-Comm. R. E. I. Bris-

tow was sent into the harbou

at the THE

NAVAL AU- expressing gratification With carrying depth charges.

presence of M. Maisky, said It THORITIES THIS MORNING Over 200 Chinese registered fo con- great daring the boat successfully

was something more symbolical EMPHATICALLY DENIED evacuation at the offices of passed the boom defences and

then he might be ready to ad THE REPORT THAT UNITS Shumchun Rural Welfare Centr "Since then, the Royal Navy went alongside the port quartei

The majority OF THE BRITISH AND FRENCH yesterday. has carried out two further oper- of the Richelieu.

the Acknowledging "the great con-FLEETS CLASHED AT KWANG stranded middleclass people ations designed to increase the "At the right moment

dropped tribution Russia has made for the CHOW WAN ON SUNDAY. included a number of women and security of this country against depth charges were

IT IS ABSOLUTELY UN-children. the use of French warships

clase under

the continuance of China's struggle," the stern of warship as she lay at anchor in Mr. Quo said: "She has given us TRUE," STATED THE NAVAL To-day is the last day for re WHEN AP-gistration which will be avail shallow water, in order to dam great material assistance, without SPOKESMAN

political conditions what-PROACHED BY THE "CHINA able at the same offices betwee cruiser of the Dunkerque classi age her propellors and steering any

MAIL" THIS MORNING.

14 p.m. and 6 p.m. which had been damaged and gear.

Within five minutes of an ap- driven ashore at Oran, was at- "The motorboat began to with-

immediately the depth peal by the Dean of Canterbury tacked by aircraft of the Fleet Air draw

the China cam- Arm, which obtained six hits. charges were dropped (laughte: for money for

"As a result, this powerful ship and cheers) but while still in the paign, £36 was contributed, will be incapable of effective uselharbour she broke down and lay Reuter. for a very long time to come.

the enemy.

"On July

by

6 a French battle-

At Dakar

ships

thus

helpless for a time.

"The crew, however, succeed. ed in getting one engine run. ning just as they were discover- ed, and the boat, which pursued, managed to escape by 'crossing the harbour defence

wat

mit.

ever."

thr

modern battle cruisers one has been driven ashore at Oran and will be out of action for a long time "Apart from the

Lyme to come--if not permanent. dealt with, there lay at Dakar, in

"The other managed, as French West Africa, the 35,000- ton French battleship

nets which then fouled its pur-Prime Minister told the House, t

escape and is presumed to which had just been completed, suer (laughter and cheers). was the most modern and formid- "I am sure the House will join reached Toulon, but only able capital ship in the world and me in paying tribute to the gal-having been hit by a was immediately available for lantry and skill with which the active operations.

Richelieu!

"In accordance with the de- cision announced to the Houaci

operation was carried out.

Main Attack

have after

torpedo for

immobilise her

FREE TRADE IN

wer F

and

EUROPE AFTER WAR --IN NAZI STYLE!

which will some time.

"The state of the Richelieu has already been described this after- by the Prime Minister, His Ma- "I think it must be obvious ta noon and there remains in addi-

tion only the sister ship of the A jeaty's Government decided that the House that whoever under-

Richelieu, the Jean Bart, which steps must also be taken to took an operation like that ran will not, however, be complete ensure that this vessel did not the risk the whole time of blowing for operational service for some fall into enemy hands In a himself up. condition in which she could "The main attack was entrust-months to come."-Reuter. be used against us.

ed to aircraft of the Flect Air Tribute To Naval Staff "A force was accordingly de- Arm and took place after the at- spatched to Dakar in order to tack by the motorboat.

to

with three proposals similar those offered the French com-

mander, at Oran.

At the conclusion of his state- ment Mr. Alexander said: "The present the French admiral there "These aircraft were success-House will permit me to udd a ful with their torpedoes, a num

naval staff ber of which hit the Richelieu. word of thanks to the muy recent "The motorboat, which was still which had to plan

operation immediately following "On July 7 the flag officer en- in the harbour, witnessed the air the evacuation in the face of the trusted with this operation sent craft attack. They heard five ex-enemy of troops and refugees one of his captains ahead in aplosions and then saw smoke is

totalling "not less than 600,000: sloop in order to present the terms sting from the battleship.

the greatest achievement of its in person.

Air reconnaissance since car kind in the history of naval ried out has" established that the Richelleu has a list to port operations.

French Threat

"On arrival, this ship was in- formed by the French authorities that they would open fire if she approached close to the port, and it was only after an interval that the French consented to receive to the skill, efficiency and cour-

1

It is a remarkable tribute, to

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") PICTURE OF THE FUTURE economic structur of Europe should Germany win the war agains Britain was given in the Tokyo newspape "Asahi Shimbun" yesterday by Mr. Ichizo Ko bayashi, chairman of the board of directors o the Tokyo Electric Light Company, who is a present in Berlin.

*་་་,

Europe would return to free trade after the war

not the old type free. trade. but one clad in new cloak. Europe's move in this direction however, would be decided by the attitude o the United States."

Mr.

Kobayashi expresses the

and is down by the stern the value of our sea power belief that Germany would de- large quantity of oil fuel cov-

power we do not intend to lose, mand huge, indemnities, aniount- ers the water'round the ship.

Rather do we intend to prevent a ing to eight or ten billion Amer- "All our aircraft returned 'safe-. despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, seaborne invasion of these islands ican dollars, about the sum Ger- "I would desire to pay tribute or the escape of any maurauders many paid as indemnity after the who otherwise dare to set foot last war. The Allies, who do not possess such an amount of money, hère," question he added: "Of course, borrow it from the United States

this communication by signal age with which this action was Answering a supplementary would, he said, 'be compelled to

Mr. Alexander here recapitulat-carried out by the officers, and ed the alternatives offered

men concerned. (cheers). Dakar admiral al

the

Effective Work

ALEXANDRIA AGREEMENT

The French Fleet at Alexandri

shi he which "The House will appreciate the there is no member of the Gov- which would draw the sum from which has agreed to put itself thought desirable in view of the result of this painful action which ernment, and certainly no officer its 20 billion dollars gold stock, a condition in which the statements which were made by we had to take.

or man in the British Fleet, who whereupon Gerniany with that could not put to sea, to demilita does not regret to the utmost that sum in the sand would next litt ise. Itself and to leave only su the French Government concern-

this action has been necessary. Hier'gold ban as the first step along (fcient crows on board for mai ing the terms offered at Oran.

These were four in number.

The commanding officer in the pain of free trade. The new tenance purposes, consisted of charge of these operations, after system of free trade would be battleship, four cruisers and No satisfactory reply was received,

they were over, sent a personal based primarily on consideration number of other smaller ships. ed within the necessary time

of the State. A limit

signal to the French admiral of the interests "Nevertheless," continued. Mr.

expressing his regret at having new. capitalism would appear in The British Government is had to carry out this painful Germany. Mr. Kobayashi conclud- maintain supplies and pay for Alexander, "the British naval flag officer in

duty and, hoping there had bean edi "I wonder how this new maintenance crews left on boa charge walted longer before carrying out his orders te

no casualtion.British Wire economic system would; nifest the and will repatriate them at t

Far East,Havas.

lend of the war-Beute CAR use force:

"When the armistice was sign

France had eight capital ships fit to form a line of battle under present conditions.

"Three, of the Bretagne ang Courbet classes, have now pass- One har ed under our control. been sunk, one badly damag ́and: immobilised;\"\«Of-"the two