The navy correspondent of the British newspaper Daily Telegraph reported how France reacted considered the politic situation in the Mediterranean. One large squadron was sent on a training order towards the Moroccan coast. A second squadron which was to leave Brest that day was to cruise off Gibraltar and was able to reach if necessary within 3-4 days the eastern part of the Mediterranean. France decided also to speed up the founding of a new naval base at Mers-el-Kebir at Oran, Alger. This new base offered more protection against air attacks while the large base at Bizerte, Tunis was easily to attack with planes departing from South Europe.
