Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-15
Ang|o-French Tension
In West Indies Ends
With Generalization
French Worships
Will Be Disurmed
At Martinique
BY CARLOS ]. VIDELA.

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands,
Aug. IS (NAN.A).-The veil of
mystery covering the Anglo
tension at Martinique and Gaude-
loupe, which almost resulted in a
repetition in Western Hemisphere
waters of the battle of Oran, finally
has been withdrawn with the arrival
on this American island of the first
of a group of demobilized French
soldiers, who are going to San Juan,
Puerto Rico, thence to New York
on the steamers Coamo and Chero-
kee.
Gov Bressolles of Martinique,
Gov. Sorin of Gaudeloupe and Ad-
miral Robert, high commissioner of
Gaudeloupe and Martinique, have
reached working agreement with
the British Governor of Trinidad,
Sir Hubert Young. and the admiral
in command of the Caribbean Fleet
based at Bermuda, whereby the
French aircraft carrier Bearn and
the cruiser Emile Berth. now at
Fort-de-France. Martinique, and
the training cruiser Jeanne dare,
anchored at Gaudeloupe, will be
practically disarmed.
Gold is Landed.
The huge sum of gold, estimated
at $50 million dollars, sent by the
Bank of France. before the flooding
of the subterranean chambers of its
main Office in Paris, has been landed
from the Emile Berth for deposit
at Fort st. Louis in Fort -de-France
where it is guarded day and night
by detail of Martinican soldiers,
armed with rifles and machine guns.
A military force, composed of
Frenchmen from the United States,
Mexico and the Antilles, has been
demobilized and sent home in a
roundabout way.
Frenchmen from the Americas
who had military training were sent
to France last spring; the rest were
transported to several improvised
camps in Martinique. The reserv-
lists from the United States, Mexico
and the Antilles were placed in
charge of a second lieutenant, who
came from Mexico. They numbered
about 300.
The training of the soldiers was
proceeding with customary routine
under rigorous climate when the
collapse of France threw everything
into confusion.
Then the ships arrived. The air.
craft carrier Bearn, which had
aboard 40 French planes besides
100 American-made planes loaded at
Canadian port, together with
Canadian Air Force pilots. proceeded
first to Great Britain, then to Bor-
deauX, next to Casa Blanca and
finally to Fort-de-France.
The cruiser Emile Berth came
next, and with her arrival came a
British naval force to blockade that
harbor.
Crisis Is Faced.
The commander of the Emile
Berth wanted to return to France,
following orders received from the
French Admiralty, and this almost
caused a conflagration. Gov. Bres-
solles came aboard the Berlin He
and the commander had sharp
exchange of words. Finally the
commander tore off his epaulets
and threw them down on the table
and shouted that he was through
taking orders from the local au-
thorities.
After the governor went ashore
the commander ordered that every
thing be made ready to leave Out
side the harbor lowered a British
division, which, the returning
Frenchmen said, was composed "of
one large ship. which looked like
the Renown," a couple of cruisers
and several destroyers.
The British admiral sent word
that the Berlin had better not try
to leave the harbor. The Berlin
was cleared for action, and the
commander said he was leaving at