FREE FRENCH SUCCESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 25, 9 November 1940, Page 3

FREE FRENCH SUCCESS.

AFRICAN TOWN CAPTURED.

MOVE BY VICHY FORESTALLED. LONDON, November 7. Free French forces have captured Lambarene, in Equatorial Africa. This is announced in a communique issued by the Free French headquarters in London. It states: “After the events at Dakar, the Vichy Government believed it could use Gabon (Colony as a base for recapturing Equatorial Africa. General de Gaulle accordingly took precautions. Two columns, under General de Larminat, the Governor-Gen-eral of Equatorial Africa, marched across Gabon, one from the Cameroons and the other from Pointe-Noire.

“The first column occupied Tyem, where it was immediately joined by the garrison, while the second column occupied Mayumba and Sindara. This success brought the greater part of Gabon under General de Gaulle. “Tho Vichy authorities then established strong defences along the Ogowe river from Lambarene to Njole. These defences covered Libreville and Port Gentil, and extended through Lalara and Mitjik as far as Spanish Guinea.

“The Free French forces crossed the difficult region and vigorously pressed the defences. They captured Mitjik on October 30, Lalara on November 1, and Njolo on November. 2. “The columns then met* in front of Lambarene, which was strongly defended.. The Free French troops, after laborious operations, encircled the town, which was captured on November 5.

“The Vichy Air Force incessantly bombed and machine-gunned our forces. Only Libreville and Port Gentil remain in the possession of Vichy.”