TNA ADM 199 795

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8.
wereembarked.
The bombardment however became more intense and a great deal more
accurate. The enemy were finding the approaches to the mole, and
also the range of our headquarters. Very heavy air attacks were
delivered during the "Evening Hate" but were again concentrated
on derelict ships in the roads. Dive bombing attacks were carried
out on the ships loading but without success. The embarkation
proceeded smoothly.
I asked the R.A. Dover with his Flag in "KEITH" to send
destroyers to Dunkirk to provide A.A. protection for these attacks
but he replied that none were available. This was unfortunate as
we were running out of ammunition onshore. I was getting a
little uneasy as the bombardment had fired the magazine about
100 yards behind our Headquarters, and the French Officers kindly
informed me that it was liable to explode at any noment.
However, it didnt.
The S.N.O. returned in the evening and we attended & confer
ence between the French General, (dmiral Abrian, General Alexander
G.O.C., British Force,. Brigadier Parminter, Commander Henderson,
the B.N.L.O. Captain Tennant and I were present. The plans of the
British and French Generals were at variance. The British plan for
evacuation was to be carried out in accordance with V. Dover's
Most Secret Memorandum of 30th May. The French however considered
that the evacuation should be spread over a longeryberiod of 4 or
5 days. It was not the opinion of General Mexander that the
port of Dunkirk could be held for that length of time, and he
stated that if his view were correct, that there could only result
a situation where many of his rear guard would be taken prisoner.
The Generals decided to refer the matter to their respective
Governments, and General Alexander telephoned to Mr. inthony Eden.
As a result it WAS decided to stick to the original plan of
immediate withdrawal rather than to accept the French plan of
a prolonged operation.
An incident this evening was that on returning to the Noval
Headquarters with Commander Henderson after the meeting,a shell