Evening star., 1940-09-29
African Front

Eruption of this war on Africa's west
coast. scant 1900 miles from Western
Hemisphere, came promptly last Mon
day morning.
Bearing white flag of truce and French
tri-color to display nationality, Free
French detachment directed by Gen. De
Gaulle appeared off strategically located
port of Dakar. Standing by was British
flotilla, in order to render support and
assistance if needed" Both were needed,
1t developed, but neither was sufficient for
the job at hand. Accounts varied as to
what actually happened.
According to Vichy government, as
many as six efforts were made unsuccess-
fully by landing forces, and
Dokor heavy bombardment Of
DebocIe town by British warships
followed Penned in har-
bor, IS OOO-ton French battleship Richie
lieu and several smaller warships Joined
In defense-claiming at end of two days
of intermittent fighting that damaging
hits had been scored on British battle
ships Barham and Resolution, and on
cruiser Kent.
On Wednesday, British Ministry of In
formation announced withdrawal of Free
French forces; on Thursday, complete
end of effort to capture port was ad-
mitted.
when it became plain that only
major operation of war could secure the
fall of Dakar. it was decided to discon-
tinue hostilitieS," ministry declared las
1t has never been the intention of his
majestys government to enter into seri-
Gus warlike operations against those
Frenchmen who felt it their duty to
obey the commands of the Vichy govern
ment."
Whatever truth may have been, it is
fact that entire project was another case
of too late and too little" tactics which
have been so damaging to British prestige
In setbacks of Norway Flanders, Somai-
land, etc.
Best harbor on West African coast,
i Dakar commands air lanes from that
continent to South America
Africon and sea lanes from South
Lifeline Africa to beleaguered Brit
ain. Should German-Italian
efforts to block Suez-Mediterranean
route be successful bulk of British traf-
fic from East Indies and South African
sources of supply would move past Dakar
Under neutral French government,
Dakar might nott threaten-but there
has been ample Justification for ques-
tioning either independence or neutrality
Of oppressed Vichy.
Little wonder then that Britain
smarted with disappointment at this
failure.
Meanwhile, French officialdom at
Vichy-bitter against allies whom they
had deserted-ordered retaliation for
Dakar operation in form of aerial as
saults upon Gibraltar, symbol of empire
tmpregnability.
In waves so numerous that one Won
ders where defeated France obtained
so many, Vichy planes roared over The
Rock on Tuesday and Wednesday. OBJ
servers at nearby La Linea, Spain, re-
ported hits on at least two powder maga-
zines, and columns of dense smoke led
to belief that arsenal and fuel depots
had been fired by bomb barrage. In ad-
dition, French claimed damage to $4,000
ton battle cruiser Renown one of Brit
aims finest fighting ships, and departure
of major portion of British naval squad
ron from Gibraltar Harbor-perhaps to
seek greater safety in Atlantic.
AS week neared end. this strange con-
fict between two nations which only
four months ago were pledged to victory
or defeat together had ceased-tem-
porarily