The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-05
BRITISH SEIZE -
FRANCES FLEET
Continued From Page One)

S044AAA 81
Thus, it appeared from this ex-
traordinary recapitulation OF a
campaign into which the British
navy went with determination yet
anguish that only n active
capital ship was left to the French
government.
Presumably this was the Bunker
que, which with some smaller ships
fled the Oran engagement for Tou'
lon. That mighty vessel Churchill
said, would be out of action for
months, crippled by one British
torpedo.
That engagement, a Churchill
heavily described it in the House.
was carried out without the slight
est interference from Italian war
vessels.
THE Italian fleet" he said drily,
kept prudently out OF the way"
adding:
1--WE shall take the necessary
steps to maintain command Of the
Mediterranean"
(From Geneva there had been
reports that the Italian fleet was
speeding to the aid of the French.)
Final Break Seen
A final rupture of diplomatic
relations with the Petain govern
ment was predicted by informed
men.
indications that the French al
ready had started such a move
were seen in a telegram sent from
Vichy, France, to Berlin which
stated that the French Foreign
Minister had told U. S. Ambas-
sador William c. Bullitt of
Frances utmost Indignation"
asking that President Roosevelt be
informed Of the feeling.
ut was reported that Petain,
in terms that would settle Frances
attitude toward Britain, would re-
ply to Churchill.)
Churchill began his report Of
all that had happened by saying
that what he had to say was said
with sincere sorrow" and near
its completion he made it clear
that the resolute action against the
French fleet should convince the
world that there is no though
here OF peace"
ANY idea Of that" he said,
should be completely swept out
of the way by the very drastic
and grievous action we have felt
ourselves compelled to take"
The seizure of the French vessels
In the British harbors, Churchill
reported, was accomplished by
boarding parties after notice has
been given when possible to the
vessels captains.
Little Bioodshed
There was no bloodshed. he said,
save ON the submarine Sourcouf,
where there al a "scuffle" in
which a British seaman was killed,
two British officers and a seaman
wounded and one French officer
killed and another wounded.
Many French seamen, he de-
clared, expressed an ardent de-
sire to continue the war"
He made it plain that there might
yet be fighting in Alexandria if
the commanding officer OF French
vessels there should decide to try
to fight his way out.
He said, too, as to the few French
fighting ships still at large:
-. . 1t is our inflexible resolve
to do everything possible in order
to prevent them from falling into
German hands"
Explaining how it was that Brit
ain had acted so drastically
against the ships Of a former friend
the Prime minister repeated that
ed the fleet surrender had order
ed the flee t surrender in violation
of assurances that this would
never be done.
Standing tensely before a now
cheering, now silent. house, he told
of the cabinets unanimous deci-
sion, taken in melancholy determi-
nation, that the French must give
up or 60 down with their ships.
Alternatives Rejected
British guns were loosed at Oran,
he said, only after a~gonizing hours
Of suspense and the final rejection
by the French Admiral Gensoul
Of these British alternatives:
"A. Sail with us and continue
to fight for victory against the
Germans and Italians.
b. Sail with reduced crews un.
Ger our control to a British port.
The reduced crews will be repair.
at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
If either Of these courses is
adopted by you we will restore
your ships to France at the con-
clusion Of the war or pay full COM
pensation if they are damaged
meanwhile.
"Alternatively, if you feel bound
to stipulate that your ships are
not to be used against the Ger
mans or Italians unless they break
the armistice conditions then sail
with them with reduced crews to
some French port in the West
where they can be demilitarized or