The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-15
FRENCH ship
JOINS ALLIES

CONTINUED from Page ~
its eight l5-inch guns against the
Nazis. The big ship was disabled
by depth charges laid against its
hull and BY British naval aircraft
torpedoes at Dakar on July 8, 1910.
Addition Of the Richelieu and
other French warships now in
United States waters to Allied sea
power after q hazardous crossing Of
the submarine infested Atlantic was
one Of the great fruits Of the United
States invasion of French North
Africa.
The Richelieu was the first Of
three ships Of its class to be built
by France. OF the others, the Jean
Bart was at Casablanca ct the time
Of the American invasion and, ac-
cording to James Fighting Ships,
was then "in an incomplete state"
The hun Of the Clemenceau, third
Of the class, was understood to have
been wrecked by high explosive
charges before the evacuation OF
Brest.
The big ship carries a complement
Of 1870 men and, In addition to its
eight 15-inch guns, mounts IS six
inchers and 80 ar1ti-aircraft guns Of
81 MN. and 13 nm. caliber. It Is
designed to carry four aircraft, with
two catapults. The total weight Of
Its armor Is $1,000 tons.
Admiral Fenard IN making the
Richlieu announcement said that
IAN important contingent Of French
warships" had arrived In the United
States consisting Of battlesh1p,
cruisers and destroyers.
The warships are acting under the
orders Of Gen. Henri Glraud, the
admiral said. The ships will under.
60 repairs at various shipyards along
the Atlantic coast, the admiral
added. ..,
The Fighting French crews are
"glad to be fighting on the side Of
the United Nations" F'enard said,
after more than two years Of mac
ton.
The ships will be used, the ad-
n1iral said to keep open the African
sea lanes.
In addition to Richlieu, FenMEi
said, two small cruisers, Fantasqueb
and the Terrible, left New York to-
day for another destination. They
arrived here with the Richlieu few
days ago from Dakar, he said. At
Philadelphia, he added, the cruiser
Montcalm would undergo repairs.
They came here for refitting and
to get new anti-aircraft guns" the
admiral explained, "Other ships Of
the French feet which escaped from
the Germans have already put to
sea and are in operation now.
"The Richlieu made the trip NICE
" with only three engines working
out Of its four This was done IN
spite Of a rough sea-"
The admiral was asked II actually
the battleship had not weathered "a
first class storm" He lTlghed and
replied, ayes, but we do not wish
to exaggerate,"
The Richlieu, after IL escaped
from Brest, he said, went directly to
Dakar but there were no facilities
there for repairs beyond those nee
essary to make It seaworthy.
IF the Richlieu Is to do any fight
ing" he explained, ut must be in
first class shape. We want to go to
sea quick"
Incidentless Trip
The trip across the ocean re-
uuired three weeks and was without
incident. They had knowledge that
there were German submarines IN
the neighborhood, but they wire not
attacked. The total under the COM
mand Of Giraud, not including the
ships in the hands Of the Free
French, consists Of three battleships
three heavy cruisers, six light
cruisers, one aircraft carrier, four
big destroyerS, Ave ordinary des-
troyers, 10 to ~ sloops, IA submar-
ines, and a number OF accessory
ships.
The captain Of the Richelieu Is
Marcel Batouard.
Admiral Fenard said his ships
would eight under the French
flag" but would operate in any wa
tiers decided upon by the Allies.
IT suppose" he said, ut would be
best for us to fight close to our
own bases"
1--WE feel" he said, "that all the
ships which were at Toulon are I'M
ished now. This operation has been
ready since the armistice.
"There was never any idea Of
I A a. -