London, July 4. 'THE British Navy took over contro! of all French warships in British ports yesterday and "action" was taken against French vessels near Oran because the French Admiral in command refused. to accept the British conditions for surrender.
"Operations against these ships are still proceeding, the Ministry of Information announced early today.
Casualties suffered in the fight between British and French warships around Oran have not yet been announced, but two! casualties were said to have resulted from a "misunderstanding" when other French warships were being taken over by the-British Navy.
It has been estimated that 150 French warships were in British ports when the British Navy went into action.
The majority of the French warships within reach of the British Navy, however, were old destroyers, gunboats and small auxiliaries, The French Western Mediterranean Fleet is based at Oran. The French naval oticer mentioned by the British Announcement was believed to be Admiral Esteva, The French Eastern Fleet, based at Alexandria and including some of France's most powerful warships, has been under British command since the outbreak of the war.
"It_will be xeealled," the Ministry of Information announced, "that France, relying on German and Italian promises not to use the French Fleet against. Britain, undertook by the terms of her armistice with Germany and Italy to permit her Fleet to pass into the enemies' hands.
Offered Certain Conditions "Britain, having lost faith in German and italian promises, felt compelled—not only in her own interests but also. in hopes of restoring the independence of the French and the integrity of the French Empire—to take steps before it was too late to assure that the French Fleet would not be used against her "With this object, steps were taken early on July 3 to place all French men-of-war in British ports under British control. The operation was successfully carried out with only two casualties resulting from a misunderstanding "At the same time French vessels in North African ports were offered certain conditions designed solely to Keep them from Germany. It was explained to the commanding officer that if none of these conditions were accepted, Britain was prepared to take every step to insure that none of these vessels would be used against her_in the: future.
"Britain deeply' regrets that the French Admiral Commanding at Oran. refused to accept any of the conditions proposed, with the inevitable result that action had to be taken against the French vessels there.
"These operations are still proceeding. A statement will be made in Parliament by the Prime Minister
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.