LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Addison, may I ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make on the war situation, with particular reference to the naval position?
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, you will remember that on July 4 my noble friend the Foreign Secretary described the painful but very necessary action which we had taken on the previous day to prevent units of the French Fleet lying in British and North African ports from passing into enemy control. Since that date the Royal Navy have carried out two other operations designed to increase the security of this country against the use of French warships by the enemy. On July 6 a French battle cruiser of the "Dunkerque" class which had been damaged and driven ashore at Oran was attacked by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm who obtained six hits. As a result this powerful ship will be incapable of effective use for a very long time to come.
Apart from the ships thus dealt with, there lay at Dakar in French West Africa the 35,000-ton battleship "Richelieu" which had just been completed and was the most modern and formidable capital ship in the world immediately available for active operations. In accordance with the decision announced to your Lordships by the Foreign Secretary, His Majesty's Government decided that steps must also be taken to ensure that this vessel did not fall into enemy hands in a condition in which she could be used against us. A force was accordingly despatched to Dakar with orders to present to the French Admiral there proposals similar to those offered to the French commander at Oran. On July 7 the Flag Officer entrusted with this operation sent one of his captains ahead in a sloop in order to present the terms in person. On arrival, this ship was, however, informed by the French authorities that they would open 804 fire if she approached close to the port, and it was only after an interval that the French consented to receive this communication by signal.
In view of statements which have been made by the French Government concerning the terms offered at Oran it is desirable that I should recapitulate now those put to the Admiral at Dakar. His Majesty's Government offered four alternatives. First, that the French ships should sail with reduced crews and under escort to a British port with a guarantee that the crews would at once be repatriated, and at the end of the war the ships returned to France. Secondly, that they should sail with reduced crews to a French port in the West Indies where they could be demilitarised or perhaps be entrusted to the United States for safe keeping. Thirdly, that the ships should be demilitarised in Dakar within twelve hours; or, fourthly, they should be sunk within a time limit some hours after the receipt of the signal by the French authorities. No satisfactory reply was received within this limit. Nevertheless, the British naval commander waited longer before carrying out his orders to use force. Finally, as it became clear that the French authorities did not propose to accede to any of the British suggestions, he had no alternative but to carry out his painful duty in the early hours of July 8.
The attack upon the "Richelieu" was two-fold. A ship's boat under the command of Lieut.-Commander H. R. Bristowe, R.N., was sent into the harbour carrying depth charges. With great daring the boat successfully passed the boom defences and went alongside the port quarter of the "Richelieu". At the right moment depth charges were dropped close under the stern of the warship as she lay at anchor in the shallow water in order to damage her propellers and steering gear. The motor boat began to withdraw immediately after dropping the depth charges but while still in the harbour broke down and lay helpless for a time. The crew however succeeded in getting one engine running just as they were discovered and the boat, which was pursued, just managed to escape by crossing the harbour defence nets which fouled its pursuer. I am sure that your Lordships will join me in paying tribute to the gallantry and skill with which this operation was carried out.
805 The main attack was entrusted to aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm and took place after the attack by the motor boat. These aircraft were successful with their torpedoes, a number of which hit the "Richelieu". The motor boat which was still in the harbour witnessed the aircraft attack, heard five explosions and then saw smoke issuing from the battleship. Air reconnaissance since carried out has established that the "Richelieu" has a list to port and is down by the stern. A large quantity of oil fuel covers the water around the ship. All our aircraft returned safely in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire. Your Lordships will desire to pay tribute to the skill, efficiency and courage with which this action has been carried out by the officers and men concerned.
Your Lordships will appreciate the result of the action which we have had to take. When the Armistice was signed, France had eight capital ships fit to form a line of battle under present conditions. Of these, three of the "Bretagne" and "Courbet" classes have now passed under our control, one has been sunk, and one badly damaged and immobilised. Of two modern battle cruisers, one has been driven ashore at Oran and, as I have already mentioned, will be out of action for a long time to come, if not permanently. The other managed, as the Foreign Secretary told your Lordships, to escape, and is presumed to have reached Toulon, but only after having been hit by a torpedo which will demobilise her for some time. The state of the "Richelieu" has already been described. There remains, in addition, the sister ship of the "Richelieu," the "Jean Bart" which will not, however, be completed for many months to come. I need not emphasize that the transfer of this powerful modern fleet to the enemy might have altered the whole balance of naval strength, with incalculable results to our cause. As a result of the measures which we have taken, this grave anxiety is now removed.
Perhaps the House will permit me to add a word of thanks to the Naval Staff who had to plan these recent operations immediately with, and following, the completion of the evacuation, in face of the enemy, of troops and refugees totalling not less than 600,000, the greatest achievement of its kind in the history of naval operations and a remarkable 806 tribute to the value of our sea power, which we do not intend to lose. Rather, we intend to prevent seaborne invasion of this island or the escape of any marauders who dare to set foot here.
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§ LORD ADDISONMy Lords, it is impossible off-hand adequately to comment upon this thrilling statement. Historically it will become a renowned statement. As a layman, one is filled with admiration of the ingenuity and daring of the men who carried this operation out. I only hope that the result of this exploit will, in fact, be that this powerful ship will be immobilised for a long time. I do not know what the repair facilities at the port in question are, but I imagine that they are not very considerable for a ship of this kind. As one listens to one after the other of these accounts of acts of boldness and ingenuity by the members of His Majesty's Naval Forces, one is filled with a longing for the day when we shall find their exploits extended to the Italian ships which are diligently skulking in their ports. I am not aware what opportunities they present, knowing nothing whatever about the technicalities of this matter, but one cannot but feel that men gifted with the courage and ingenuity which have so far been displayed will be able to discover some means to induce or compel these reluctant war vessels to take the sea, or will be able to deal with them in the places where they have so far skulked in safety.