The Dakar Expedition
The events at Dakar this week create a disquieting situation, With consequences not easily predictable. On Monday morn- ing General de Gaulle with a Free French Force accom- panied by a powerful British Naval Force arrived off the port, and called upon his numerous followers there to rally to his flag. At the orders of the representatives of the Vichy Government fire was opened on the General's unarmed emissaries who had been sent to demand the surrender of the town, and an engage- ment followed in which the French naval vessels from Toulon, recently granted permission to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar, took part, as well as the guns of the disabled 'Richelieu.' It appears that the Vichy Government had ordered and carried out wholesale arrests of Frenchmen known to be friendly to General de Gaulle, and moreover have been giving full facilities to German and Italian officers to assume control of the air bases and plan the reopening of the air service to South America. Once again the rulers of enslaved France - are offering aid to the enemy, and in such a way as to threaten our sea-communications with South Africa and give Germany a jumping-off point for contacts with South America. It appears true that a large section of the population would have welcomed General de Gaulle, but the representatives of Vichy commanded sufficient forces to keep them under. It is hard to resist the conclusion that the attack ought to have been carried through once it was launched.
