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FRENCH GUARD GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR, April 17. The French navy-took over the task of guarding Gibraltar today as the British Mediterranean fleet was concentrated at Malta. While a mighty German naval fleet steamed southward for maneuvers off the Spanish coast, twelve French warships appeared suddenly in Gibraltar harbor i-fter sailing from their home ports under secret orders. They dropped anchor as the British" admiralty announced here and in London that virtually the entire British Mediterranean fleet had arrived at Malta. Dispatch of a French fleet to Gibraltar was intended to prevent a possible Nazi-Fascist attack on Tangiers, as well as to co-operate with the British fleet, it was said unofficially in Paris. The navy ministry refused to discuss the unusual measure.
