Show BRITAIN HOLDS FRENCH FLEET INTACT WASHINGTON WASHINGTON LEARNS L WASHINGTON June 22 AP Great AP-Great Great Britain has taken over the bulk of the French fleet intact authoritative sources in the capital heard Saturday and with it the problem of servicing servicing ing lug a navy whose m munitions pla plant t and machine shops are largely in tin enemy hands Even as informed persons reported reported reported re re- ported that this government had been advised of British acquIsition acquisition tion of the French warships naval engineers expressed the opinion that most of the vessels would have only a short term short term or reserve value to Great Britain Their immediate immediate immediate im im- im- im mediate usefulness it was suggested suggested sug sug- would be limited by the amount of ammunition and spare parts aboard in accompanying auxiliaries or at French colonial bases To make the French fleet a permanent adjunct of the British navy the engineers said it would be necessary for Britain to develop develop develop de de- an entirely new industry industry- a costly and consuming tune oper oper- There was rejoicing among allied supporters nevertheless because had the French fleet fallen to the enemy the combined German Italian and French navies would have lave outnumbered the British in battleships and many other categories A large number of French planes have been flown to England England England En En- gland and North Africa it it- was report reported d. d These sources also said that word had been received that Frances France's newest new battleship the Jean Bart which was ready for commissioning next month had been towed to England Other advices stated that some navy ships under construction at Brest France had been destroyed before the nazi columns arrived |