Vichy, May 28, The bombing of the port of Sfax, in Tunisia, by British planes today fs considered absolutely unjustified competent quarters hero, and deeply stirred the French population.
The latter's reaction wag all the stronger since a series of British in-WMiatives, similarly inspired, were made known during the day.
First of all there was the statement made by the British Trade Minister in which he declared that Syria and the Lebanon would be henceforth considered as enemy-occupied ter ritory. This thesis Ig considered undefendable in Vichy for Syria and the Lebanon are exclusively and effactively under French mandate.
Next came news of the British raids on Syrian territory today. in the course of which a British plane was shot down near Aleppo. The activity of French anti-aircraft bat teries fs considered a demonstration of France's determination to defend her Empire at any cost, Thirdly, there was the announce. ment made in the House of Commons by the British Parliamentary Seeret~ ary to the War Offke. Mi. Dingle, that no further navicerts for vessels carrying foodstuffs to France are at Present being considered, This announcement was received calmly in France. where it is hoped (hat the measure is only a temporary Navy Sinks Axis Ships London, May 29.
The steady toll which the Royal Navy has been taking of enemy troops and supplies bound for the Western Desert theatre of war wat augmented by the sinking of the 16000-ton, Jiner and other vessels sh nounced in yesterday's Admniraliy communique.
In addition to the destroyer referred to in the communique of May 23, this communique also stated that 2 troop-ship of about 9,000 tons. a '7.000-ton tanker and a large ammunition schooner had been sunk. while a sinaller schooner had been shelled ind "hit. several times.
In April, the Navy intercepted a south-bound convoy of five supply-ships. escorted by three Italian destroyers, between Sicily and Tripoli and annihilated it.
Not only in the Mediterranean has. the enemy felt the weight of Britain's Supply vessels creeping along the occupied coasts of Burope giving relict to. the hard pressed Nazi railway have been con-Stantly attacked by the RAS. in day-ight with considerable success, 'A German supply ship of up: proximately 6.000 tons was struck twice by heavy bombs dropped by an RA'. coastal command. airerat off Brest on Wednesday. Five armed trawlers were escorting the Supply ship.
'The supply, ship was left listing and settling down after he pilot of the British plane estimated that his second salve "torpedoed" it below the water' line. All the armed trawlers opened fire but the plane was hit only twice—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.