1940-09-24 — Page 1

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The ERST EDITION

Hongkong Telegraph.

「YOUNDED II 二拜禮 號四廿月九英港香 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1940. BEĦĦA

No. 18363

BRITISH WARSHIPS DAKAR: SURRENDER

GENERAL DE GAULLE LEADS ATTACK ON FRENCH WEST AFRICAN PORT: WARSHIPS IN HARBOUR RESPOND

Special to the "Telegraph"

ALTHOUGH VICHY ISSUED DENIALS LAST NIGHT, IT IS NOW OFFICIALLY ADMITTED BY THE PETAIN GOVERNMENT THAT BRITISH AND FREE FRENCH WARSHIPS ARE • HEAVILY BOMBARDING DAKAR, THE CAPITAL OF FRENCH SENEGAL AND SEAT OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT OF FRENCH WEST AFRICA,

General de Gaulle, leader of Free France, is aboard the flagship of the attacking British

squadron.

The bombardment opened at 2.5 p.m. (10.5 p.m. H.K.T.) yesterday.

tinuing as night fell at 6 p.m. (2 a.m. H.K,T.).

Sixty Dead. Report

It was still con-

A communique issued in Vichy states that at least sixty people in Dakar (population 100,000) are dead and about the same number seriously wounded.

The British bombardment is directed against the concentration of French warships in the harbour and against the naval dockyard.

In the French naval dock is the 35,000-ton battleship Richelieu, which was seriously damaged in the previous attack on Mers el Kebir.

Richelieu's Guns Respond

Although in dry dock, the Richelieu is replying to the British bombardment with her 15-in. güns, The bombardment was preceded by an ultimatum from General de Gaulle to the Commander-in-Chief

of the French squadron and to the Governor of Dakar.

ULTIMATUM PRECEDES SHELLING

The ultimatum demanded the unconditional surren- der of Dakar and of all ships, including warships, in the harbour. It was rejected.

are Landing parties aboard the British warships

soon as the said to be in readiness to storm the city as guns of Richelieu and some French cruisers are silenced.

De Gaulle Appeals To Frenchmen To Rally

LONDON, Sept. 23 (Reuter).-General Charles de Gaulle, leader of all Free Frenchmen, has arrived at Dakar with a combined French and British force and

has summoned all his followers to rally to the flag of

Free France,

This was revealed this even- ing by the Ministry of Informa- tion, which issued the following statement!

"Recent reports have shown that the Germans are making persistent efforts to bring Dakar under their control and the movement of French ships from Toulon to Dakar, which elcarly would not have been effected without German permission, gave further evidence of the attempt that was in contemplation,

"In view of the fact that a consi→

Indo-China Agreement

Vichy Statement

There is no fortified citadel at Dakar. Seven French warships are returning the fire of the British ships. They include three oruisers which arrived at Dakar from Toulon last week after being permitted to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar.

The French Cabinet met at Vichy at 5 p.m yesterday to

study the despatches from Dakar.

Subsequently it issued the following communique: "The attack on Dakar is worse than the attack on Mers el Kebir.

"It is assassination. There is no warship at Dakar and no danger of Dakar becoming German to be used against England."

Another official statement, broadcast by radio, an- nounced the attack and called General de Gaulle a "traitor". The French Foreign Minister, M. Baudoin, who made the broadcast, accused Britain of attempting

to steal Senegal.

Dakar is 100 miles north of Bathurst, the capital of Gambia. Sir Thomas Southorn, former Colonial Secretary in Hongkong, is Governor of Gambia and resides in Bathurst.

Dakar lies just behind Cape Verde, the extreme western- most promontory in Africa, The area of the port is about 276 acres, the southern portion being the Commercial Harbour, with an ares of 180 acres, the remainder (which is being shelled).being used as the Naval Harbour. There is anchorage for 82 vessels VICHY, Sept. 23 (Reuter),—and there are 21 loading berths along the port'e'quays. The agreement between France Vichy Communique

former enemy. But the facts show and Japan is announced in an'

that this is not sq. Former General| official communique today.

VICHY, Sept. 24 (Reuter).—de Gaulle is leading foreign forces

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THE RICHELIEU, biggest warship over built for Franco.

NAZIS LOSE 265 Story Of The Italian Advance Into Egypt

PLANES IN WEEK

LONDON, Sept. 23 (Reuter).-I is stated authoritatively that during the week ended September 21, Germany lost 265 machines in battles over Britain.

Britain lost 47 planes but 28 pilots were saved.

In R.A.F. raids over the continent, 12 British machines failed to return.

Harassed on All Sides

CAIRO, Sept. 23 (Router).-Details of the Italian advance from Libya now available show that one enemy column, after repairing the road down the escarpment at Sollum, which had been blown up by British sappers, began to advance alongside the sea under a certain degree of cover afforded by low-lying- sandbills.

It

A second column advanced along the top of the escarpment to Halifya Pasa some 15 miles from Sollum but, when

[attempted to descend the escarp- ment, it suffered severe casual- ties.

German Pilot Rescued

By British Officer

Wi

LONDON, Sept. 23 (Reuter)-Hundreds of people on the seafront at Folkestone this morning watched an exciting rescue of a wounded German airman by a British officer.

When a Messerschmitt 109 was shot down in the sea, the wounded pilot freed-himself from the cockpit and rose to the surface among the bubbles left by the machine.

A British officer on the breakwater quickly stripped off his jacket, dived

LONDON'S CIVIL

Pass Blown Up-

At the last moment the Pass was blown up by retiring troops and the Italians were forced to dismount from their transports."

They began streaming down the and through the rocky water- courses where they were subjected to Bren gunfire.

British forward troops famous regiment-participated in this opera- tion and then withdrew and left the enemy to encounter the next ob- stacle.

Before the Italian advance, enemy artillery fire from Bardia, alded by spotters at Capuzzo, was very nc- curate since they have been able to plat the range of all targets.

DEFENCES Hazardous Undertaking

into the sea and swam 300 yards to Fundamentally Sound LONDON, Sept. 23 (Reuter), keep afloat.

where the German was struggling to

of the enemy are actually engaged as are necessary for the establishment

A comparatively small proportion

front line troops as many thousands

deal,

He took a life-saving hold of theThe practical experience of the and maintenance of what must sure- pilot and swam back to the break-past few weeks has demonstrat-ly be one of the most difficult and water, where it was found that the ed the fundamental soundness of most exposed lines of communication. German had a fractured ankle and London's civil defence organisa- with which any general has had to bullet wounds,

tion and the excellent spirit of In order to avoid congestion along its members, states the London the coast. Itallen motorised units are County Council Civil Defence also advancing along another constal. Committee in a report to the track due south of Bukbuk.

From this point they may be forced Council.

to proceed over a very rough desert

King & Queen In East End

Visit Hospital

The greatest demands have been TURN to Page 5, Column Five

made on the fire service and both the regular and auxiliary forces worked with the utmost energy at whatever LONDON, Sept. 23 (Reuter). tasks had arisen.

The average time taken by am- sary was visited by the King bulances to reach the

incident's notwithstanding the black- and Queen who talked to menout was only seven minutes from and women of the East End receipt of a call.

derable element of the population The communique states that with The authorities of French West attack against his compatriots.A London hospital which to-

Those Frenchmen who stili was opposed to the Vichy Govern- the view to contributing towards a Africa have been ordered to to consider him a traitor now have pay celebrated its 200th anniver ment's policy of subservience to new order in East Asia and a solu- reply to the bombardment open- their eyes opened," Berlin and had declared in favour of tion of the China question negotia ed on Dakar by British warships, Free France, General de Gaulle Hastions on fundamental questions con- decided to proceed with a Free cerning French Indo-China were according to reports reaching French force lo Dakar to assist those conducted in Tokyo in friendly Vichy through the elements which, have supported his atmosphore last week. CRUSC.

The Japanese Government gave the "He arrived off Dakar this morn-French Government, un assurance of ing and has summoned his followers their intention to respect French to rally to the fing of Free French. rights und interests in the Far East,

"Resistance seems to have been en-particularly the territorial integrity countered but the situation is not yet of Indo-China. fully clear.

The French Government consented "General de Gaule's Free French to grant the Japanese Government force is accompanied by a British special facilities in Indo-China for force which will lend him full sup-the Japanese Army and Navy to port."

pursue their operations.

Upsalting Statur Quo

Agency.

London.

Havas New Caledonia jured in the air raids on

Promises Help.

The order followed a meeting of the Inner Cabinet under Marshal Petain. The latest reports indicate that the British squadron includes two battle-

destroyers...

For Allies

They spent an hour and a quarter: at the Hospital, which itself has suffered bombardment from the air. The King subsequently sent a tele

scene of

More Centres Needed Practical experience' and 'particu-| larly the prolonged absence from some enforced on large numbers of people by unexploded bombs hat shown the need for expanding the ceception of emergency rast and feeding centres.

ships, four cruisers, six auxillary NOUMEA, New Caledonia, gram to the chairman of the hospital cruisers and a certain number of Sept. 23 (Reuter)The enrol-sending that connected with the

wishes to all ment of Frenchmen in New hospital on the occasion of its 200th The strict Imitations formerly placed on the 'extent to which the A communique Issued by the Petain Caledonia to fight with the birthday.De Foreign Ministry this evening reads: Allied forces is expected to begin

Council might, provide Zood; and "Former General de Gaulle arrived this week.

which has aboard British troops. It is reported that many are keen

Thailand Goodwill. WASHING conference to-day, Mr. off Dakar with a British squadro

Sept. 23 (Reuter). Mission Starts Off Cordeu Hull; the U.S. Secretary of RANGOON, Sept. 22. (Reuter)

"I wish to express my admiration bedding. for the homeless will now for the way in which the medical be removed and beds, mattresses and staff and pursine: mrvices are carry- Lments "are now available at the

ng on in these dificult days in spite centres. State, declared in a formal statement "He presented to the French auto fola up with the Australians. of the bombing to which they have that the status quo in Indow China is thorities in Dakar an ultimatum, urg The town is decorated with General been so ruthlessly subjected,” walt An official goodwill mission arrived Is being upset under duress.

Ing them, to surrender, and we de Gaulle's fog and - soldiers are the King in his message.

CHARITY SHOW this morning from Thailand, gen Events are transpiring so rapidly

"The ultimatum was rejected and driving about in cars shouting "Vive

'de Gaulle." · The mission which leaves for India in the Indo-Chinesa altuation that it

Amatinee performance will on September 30 Lviding Burma, is impossible to get a clear pleture of the British squadron opened fire at

LONDON, Sept. 23 (Reuter) given by Chang and his Magical India, Malaya, and Australia with the minute te minute, development, Dakar,

Mang app new Governor, sald: Britain many Eight Dutch army, officers arrived at Revue Company at the Queen's object of promoting friendly relations said Mr Hall.

"It might be supposed that former count on every halp from New an eastern Canadian port to-day to Theatre at 6pm, to-day, the entire between Thulland, and the Brillsh If seems obvious that the status General de Gaulle went to England Catedriola in her glorious fight for recruit and infantry battalion from proceeds of which will be donated to Empire:

TURN to Page 5. Column Four only to continue the war against our victory

Quene umong Netherlanders Inj Canutary Chinese, and British war rellet funds

In a wireless talk M. Saulot, the

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