French v. French

This week General Charles de Gaulle and his Free Frenchmen went into action against "Free" (unoccupied) France. Quite a bit was at stake. Theirs was the first real test of the Frenchmen's revolt against France. If it succeeded, the whole French Empire might swing in line with London rather than with Berlin. Furthermore, there was an immediate stake: six pro-German French warships.

Fortnight ago three cruisers and three destroyers slipped past the beetling guns of Gibraltar, headed into the Atlantic with tricolors waving. It was strange that Germany had allowed their departure, for they were supposed to be interned in Toulon for the duration of the war. It seemed just as strange that Britain should let them go by unmolested, for they were survivors of a French squadron the British had partially destroyed in the Battle of Oran Bay two months before.

The Germans had apparently permitted the ships to sail with the understanding that they were being dispatched to suppress a revolution in Africa in favor of General de Gaulle. It seems that France then informed the British that she was in reality sending them to join forces with Britain again. Just as slyly the British pretended to believe the trick, but made sure the squadron would never reach the rebellious colonies in French Equatorial Africa. Off the coast of West Africa British warships intercepted the French flotilla, drove it back to Dakar, in Senegal, which was still subservient to Vichy, and the westernmost tip of Africa.

Three days later two large British battleships, four cruisers, "several" destroyers and four troop transports under the command of General de Gaulle appeared off Dakar. General de Gaulle sent a message to Governor General Pierre Boisson demanding the surrender of the colony. M. Boisson refused. At 2 p.m. the British and French force opened fire. The bombardment proceeded far into the night, and Vichy sources indicated that General de Gaulle would attempt a landing. Foreign Minister Paul Baudoin declared: "This is not a question simply of ships which might be taken by the Germans or Italians, but a British desire for French property. . . .Wounded as she may be, France still is capable of defending herself and replying blow for blow."

This week "Free France" struck at the English--and struck a blow singularly in coordination with Axis plans. One hundred and twenty French planes were unofficially reported to have bombed Gibraltar. First reports did not indicate whether the pilots were also French.

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