 She screened French cruisers several times as they unsuccessfully hunted for Italian ships after Italy declared war in June.After most of French Equatorial Africa had declared for Free France in August, "L'Audacieux" and two of her sisters escorted a force of cruisers sent to Dakar in September to intimidate the colonies into rejoining Vichy France.The British and Free French sent a force to persuade French West Africa to join the Free French and the Battle of Dakar began when the garrison rejected their entreaties.