Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 04, 1940, Winnipeg, Manitoba Final edition leg vol pages. Sun rises 4.25 Sun sets 20.39. Moon rises 4.09 Moon sets 19.40. Winnipeg thursday july -4, 1940 and warm. British get French Navy fight rages Between former allies Fate of great Fleet revealed by Churchill in a fierce naval Battle Between the Royal Navy and remnants of the French Fleet in the algerian port of Oran the big Battle Cruiser Strasbourg or Dunke que shown was hit by a British torpedo but fled and reached Toulon. A battleship of the 29, 000-ton Bretagne or provincial Type shown was sunk. In a British port the submarine Surcouf was seized after a hand to hand scuffle Between British and French sailors. Inset in the layout is a French Cruiser one of seized by the British Navy. Rumanian Riddle pro nazi government named As russian pressure grows Bucharest july Carol named a pro German government today As unconfirmed reports circulated persistently in the capital that soviet Russia had made new demands on Rumania. These demands As yet not confirmed officially were said to Call for. Soviet control of All Bridges along the prut and Danube Rivers where these Rivers form the new soviet rumanian Frontier. At the same time Rumania Al most despairing of the help she had expected from Germany opened or prison doors in a desperate Earch for every available Man to meet threats Frem within and Geneva july 4. Petain government of France today ordered French warships at Alexandria har Bor to fight their Way Home after hostilities broke out Between the British and French fleets in the Mediterranean according to a communique. The communique issued by the Petain government at Clemont Ferrand and published in this morning s Issue of the newspaper Petit Dauphin is of Gre Isoble France claimed the British opened fire on units of the French Fleet at Mersel Kebir naval base near Oran Algeria at 5.40 . Yesterday after the French commander refused to comply with a six hour ultimatum to scuttle his ships or surrender them to the British. The Petain government also directed French warships to Stop ill British merchantmen encountered on the High the statement All French warships everywhere were directed to fight if attacked y the British. No capital ships Given up London july 4. Up the French National committee still directing a French fight against Germany announced today no Capi Tal ship of the French Navy had fallen into German or italian hands. The announcement was made by vice Admiral Emile Fusilier com Mander of the free French naval forces and Collaborator with Gen eral Charles de Gaulle. Fusilier also said that a number of French naval vessels had rallied to general de Gaulle s cause and a number of French submarines Are in British Waters. He said several warships under construction in France were towed to safety together with the work men to Complete them. Agonizing to britons the thought of fighting Between British and French which had been pooled at the outbreak of the War under direction of the Brit ish admiralty just As All Allied land forces in France were pooled under command of a French Generalissimo was agonizing to britons. But there was the Grimm est kind of determination in evidence Here tha France s Fleet second largest in Europe fourth largest in the world must be kept out of the hands o Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolin at any Cost possessed of the French Navy the Axis partners would have a combined Fleet approximately equal in tonnage to Britain s. Italian Camp bombed Cairo july 4. Royal air Force statement today said that bombers of the South african air Force had attacked heavy gun positions near a native Camp in the Royala District yesterday Register ing direct hits with heavy bombs. There was an explosion nearby prob ably an ammunition dump the state Flent Addad. Troops took cover in Ravine and in some Woods and machine gunned by the air Craft. All the planes returned safely. Britain bolsters orders London. July 4. Up Canada is being cast in a major role of the new world wide ments expansion being organized the British ministry of Supply n co operation with the Canadian department of munitions it was warned today. As part of the new production policy the government has in eased its orders for a wide Range of munitions ranging from tanks bombers Down to ammunition a. Being placed in the United Canada and other Domin ions. Forms Ottawa Juh 4. Up form necessary for administration of the rational defence tax on incomes Are distributed As quickly As pos Able among employers and pm f Oyefes finance minister Ralston a. Questioner in the common today. Forms Are available in Post office Banks for employees to fill of submit to their employer sing their family status. Form 0 be used by employers in Makin remittances to the government Wil distributed the end of this week Ralston said the tax would a w on salaries earned on and after i. Snow her Borders. Some rumanian sources have Een indications that Germany desirous of keeping us Ancl More or less intact to pre Erve the Reich s economic stake Here would give King Carol some sort of guarantee against further russian encroachment and would by to prevent Hungary from taking Transylvania by Force. At Berlin however German sources described As authorized declared that in the Wilhel Strasse nothing is known of any German guarantees to Rumania. The new Cabinet under the leadership of Ion i guru Friend nazi Germany was quickly formed it included 10 former members of the pro nazi Iron guard and four former members of the anti semitic Goga government which Early ii 1938, inaugurated a reign of Terro Balkans continued on Page 12, column 2 Schultz acts school teachers lose certificates Hon. Ivan Schultz minister of education thursday announced that As a result of the findings of the discipline com Mittee advisory to the department the certificates of to teachers had been cancelled namely h. Janzen formerly o Shakespeare school and miss Elsie Kreycik formerly of Arnold no information Rome july 4 official italian spokesman today refused to confirm or deny reports that the italian Fleet was steaming full Speed to the Aid of French naval forces in the Mediterranean. Germans interned Singapore july 4. Up Reuters germans were arrested and interned by police in a Dawn round up today. Horror liner aliens die in swarms because of own panic London. July of the torpedoed British prison ship Grandora Star told today of a panic that killed almost German and italian prisoners aboard the Canada bound Steamer became screaming fighting mobs when hey realized that the ship had been torpedoed by a German sub Marine the survivors said. They swamped lifeboats and per hed by the hundreds in spite of the efforts of their British guards to save them. School. In the Case of four other teacher against whom complaints had been made the committee found ther As no evidence to substantiate the charges and exonerated the teach ers. One other Case is being further investigated. Or. Announced tha Kissman school District and Hoe school District have been taken Ove by the department of education an placed under the official trustee a Tomlinson As and from july 10. In reference to the questionnaire recently sent out to All teachers re Garding patriotic exercises in the schools the minister announced tha Over 80 per cent of the teachers a completed and returned the forms of which Are now on Hanc being examined and tabulated or. Schultz said even a pre Minary examination of the Replie indicates that no body of Public servants is rendering greater assist Ance toward the War Effort As very High percentage of the schools dictate definite contributions t red Cross War savings certificate and other such the Man ister emphasized the fact that ther could be no doubt As to the loyalty of the teachers As a whole. It was believed that at least 800 germans and italians lost their lives during a panic in which they fought each other with fists nails in a wild scramble to Mosley to go and Teeth in a reach lifeboats. About survivors were landed yesterday at a West scottish port leaving roughly missing. Prison ship continued on Page 12, column 1 London july 4. John Anderson Home Secretary told the House of commons today that the government is considering the re Moval of sir Oswald Mosley and other imprisoned friends of fascism to the dominions to place them beyond the reach of Rescue by pos sible invaders. Windsor Rumor new York july 4. American airways officials said to Day they had received a number inquiries As to whether the Duk and Duchess of Windsor were arriving on the Dixie Clipper _ fro Spain tomorrow but added the there was nothing to confirm the reports. They said the passenger list the America bound Clipper did n show the names of the Duke an Duchess but admitted possibility they might be travelling incognito Foo peace declares Churchill in Bis speech today prime minister Churchill said the lies and rumours hat we have had some intention of entering into negotiations with the italian arid German govern ments should be completely swept out off existence by the very grievous drastic action we have Celt ourselves compelled to take. There is no talk Here of peace. We shall on the contrary prose cute the War with the utmost i Call upon All subjects of his majesty and upon our allies and Irell sides of the Atlantic to their utmost Aid. In the fullest comity with our opinions we Are moving through period of extreme danger and splendid. When every virtue f our race will be tested. We Are making every prepare Tion Power to repel the As aults of our enemy whether they e directed upon Britain or upon Ireland. All British without distinction f Creed or party will realize that Reland is in imminent danger hese Are again matters upon which re have a Clear View. These prep rations Are constantly occupying or toil from morning to or. Churchill read a message head sent to All in positions of a Lovrity on what May be the. Eve of an attempted invasion or Battle for our Active land the prime minister de ires to impress upon All holding responsible positions their duty to maintain the spirit of Alert and confident Energy. There Are no grounds for sup losing that More German troops an be landed in this country either the air or across , tha an be destroyed or captured by the Trong forces at present under they should not hesitate if. Be Cess Ary to remove any officer 01 official found to be constantly exercising a disturbing or distressing a fluence " or. Churchill finished his momentous speech which was repeat edly interrupted by cheers wit ears in his eyes and the House immediately began its debate in Secre London july minister Winston Churchill said in the House f commons today that Britain yesterday took the greater part of the French Leet under control or called upon French naval units to comply with our his eyes wet with tears the prime minister told the House that while most of the French naval units had been turned Over peacefully the French commander at Oran. Algeria had refused and a naval Battle Between the two Only two weeks resulted. It was the first sea fight tween Britain and France since the b attle of Trafalgar in 1805. The prime minister related with sincere sorrow the Story of the Baval Tiou in which British guns Sank or badly damaged five of France s Icrael warships which had been ordered by the government of Premier is pshaw Henri Petain to cease fighting under terms of the armistice dictated by Hitler. He said also that Many French naval units which had been unable to reach african ports had entered Plymouth or Portsmouth about 10 Days ago and. Hey were taken Over by the British yesterday. Two French battleships two Light cruisers some submarines eight de troyes and 200 Small mine sweeping and anti submarine Craft have been Aken Over in the ports of Portsmouth Plymouth and Sheerness the prime Linister announced. J altogether he said Britain had seized three French battleships six misers eight destroyers and Many smaller . I the scene in the commons As Churchill spoke was one foreign Exchange bars stiffened Ottawa july 4. Foreign Exchange control Board today issues to the chartered Bank that All applications for foreign Exchange for travel purposes be re erred to the Board. In the Pas the Banks could Issue Exchange u to without asking the permission. A Board spokesman said today applications for Exchange for business rips would be freely granted by where the Board regards the trip a an extravagance the application will be refused. The Board s action follows a Dis Cussion in the commons yesterday n which Hon. R. B. Hanson conservative Leader protested again advertisements of Low railway rate irom Canadian to United state joints As tending to encourage can indians to spend Money across the order when the Exchange a urgently needed for the Purchase o War materials. Canadian Offee London july 4. Col onial office statement tonight Sal Canada is offering to Supply an. Additional personnel required of office ring units of the frenc Fleet now in British hands. Temperature readings Low during night. 6.30 a.m., july 4 12 noon july 4. 2.00 pjn., july 4. High july for full report of meteorological office see Page fifteen. If the most dramatic in the chamber s history. At the end of Lis address Churchill slumped to his seat on the government Bench his shoulders shaking and tears running from his eyes. Members cheered him wildly in an outburst almost As great As that when the world armistice was announced. As Churchill spoke he was fighting against emotion. At me Point it appeared he might not be Able to conclude his Peech. Churchill said that the French battleships Dunke que and Strasbourg several Light cruisers and a number of. Destroyers London july 4. Well informed French sources said tonight that the French government of marshal Henri Philippe Petain is considering breaking off diplomatic relations with Britain. Severance of relations would cause no Surprise Here it was said. Some foreign embassies believed that France might even declare War upon her former ally but British political circles believed this was unlikely at least for the present. Battle and submarines and other vessels were at Oran and adjacent ports yesterday when a British officer asked to interview the Trench Admiral. He presented a document demanding that the French Fleet continue to fight against the germans and italians or sail with Crews to a British port. If conditions were refused we must require that Tom sink your ships within six the document said according to the prime minister. Churchill said that the negotiations continued All Day and that the French Admiral refused the demands. So Churchill said a British Battle Squadron under Admiral Somerville opened fire at 5.58 . The prime minister disclosed that the British had suggested the French sail their warships to the French West indies to be demilitarized or perhaps to be entrusted to the United states of remain Safe until the end of the that proposal was one of the alternatives which the French refused at Oran and which led to the Battle Between British and French fleets. His statement ended the mystery of the French Fleet fourth largest in the world which had been ordered by the French government of marshal Henri Philippe Petain to accept terms of the armistice with Germany. Describing the Oran engagement Churchill said that. A battleship of the French Bretagne class was sunk Ano ther French on Page 4 flames 4. Special a Survey of the situation As Thi British nation prepares for tremendous events to come suggests the birth of a Strong spirit in the British people like an invigorating wind blowing through National life. How far the new spirit will carry the nation in dealing with Surprise tactics of the enemy is not a matter for Prophesy but it will be demonstrated when events occur. How Ever the opening phase of the Battle of Britain makes it Clear that those who Are directing the armed services Are determined to prof it. By the Les sons Learned in France. Britain has rid itself of the British equivalent of the Maginot line com plex and no longer agrees that offers a sure Barrier against in Vasion. First of All the British Hope the Navy and the air Force will be Able Stevens continued on Page 4, column 7 wheat sales to Britain shown Ottawa july 4. Up of can Adad s 1939 wheat crop bushels of Cash wheat and of futures were sold to the British ministry of food from aug. To Date said a return table in the commons today by Trade minister Mackinnon for e. E. Perley con., sales were made by the Canadian wheat Board to the purchasing com Mittee of the food ministry by direct Cable negotiations the return added. Nazi lines blasted any Daylight raids on staged by British bombers London july 4. Air ministry announced today that Royal air Force bombers made Day Light raids on German lines of communication and Oil plants and bombed lines of barges near Rotterdam yesterday. The i Ai drome at Merville in Northwestern France a possible base for operations against England was bombed. The statement said in part during yesterday Raif. Bombers carried out Daylight attacks on enemy Oil plants lines of communication depots. Concentrations Ooi Arges near Rotterdam and school Hoven were bombed the Aird Romes of Evere in Bel Gium and Penburg in Holland were also attacked arid troop carrying and other aircraft on the ground were set on. Fire others were damaged. Turned safely. British Down 9 nazi planes London july German bombers have been shot Down in the last 24 hours and six others badly damaged by British fighting planes and anti aircraft fire Dur ing raids on the British Isles. The first bombing of a moving train in great Britain killed the Engineer with bomb fragments in the Climax of prolonged raids yesterday and last night. Seven per sons were reported killed and 77 wounded in yesterday s attacks putting the r toll Over a 124-hour period at 20 dead and 197 wounded. A communique of the air minis try and ministry of Home Security reported today that enemy planes had set fire to a naval auxiliary vessel at Portland. The communique said the same planes Sank one tug and and damaged some buildings. There at raids continued on Page 12, column 3 All our Aik Craft re a. During the night in spite of unfavourable weather conditions the Aird Romes of Aachen in Germany Bekooy in Holland and Merville i France were attacked. One of our aircraft is German claims Berlin july 4. D.n.b., the German news and propaganda Agency last night that 18 persons including 12 children were killed yesterday in an air raid at Armbeck a suburb of Hamburg. Italian charge. Borne july 4. Bup own newspaper in Milan the Popr olo d italia last night claimed in a front Page editorial that British air raiders Over Germany had been dropping time bombs some exploding As much As nine hours later and that Germany plans retaliation if the British continue illegal War ;