BRITISH ATTACKS IN MADAGASCAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23742, 14 September 1942, Page 5

BRITISH ATTACKS IN MADAGASCAR

Vichy Account Of Movements FRENCH FORCES OUTNUMBERED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) CRec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12. It is authoritatively stated that the Madagascar operations are proceeding most satisfactorily. The first landings took the French in some places completely by surprise. . A Vichy communique claims that French forces on the Betsiboka river are still resisting the British advance, inflicting heavy losses. It says the British will have to overcome 200 barriers before reaching Antananarivo. [The Betsiboka river reaches the sea near Majunga, on the north-west coast of Madagascar. Other British landings were at Morondava, further down the coast, and Ambanja.] An earlier Vichy announcement said that British motorised columns were advancing on Antananarivo. Another column was battling towards Antsirabe, further south. The British had captured Majunga and Morondava. By nightfall on Thursday British forces were near Mevatanana, about 100 miles south-east of Majunga, _ and were being resisted on the Betsiboka river. M. Laval stated that Madagascar would be defended to the utmost, but unfortunately France had not as large a force there as she would have liked. So far, according to telegrams, only British soldiers were in Madagascar, but the United States had officially supported the action. This placed her in a position of responsibility equal with England for the attack. It is estimated in Vichy that the British have two divisions in Madagascar, giving them an overwhelming superiority. The French forces are now only about 1500, mostly natives, says a Vichy report The Vichy Government met to-day, when Marshal Petain expressed sympathy and confidence in the soldiers and people of Madagascar who were fighting against the ’“brutal British aggression." A British communique says troops landed at three points along the west coast yesterday. One detachment occupied a small island, Nossi Be, 100 miles down the coast from the northern tip of Madagascar. There was slight opposition there. British Communique The General Officer Commanding in East Africa has describe! the operations as follows: “Early Thursday morning our troops effected widespread landings on the west coast of Madagascar, including the island of Nossi Be in the north and the ports of Majunga and Morondava. Nossi Be was quickly in our possession after only slight opposition, and after the

occupation of Majunga and Morondava our troops continued, to' advance Inland towards Nahaho,* on the road lb Ambositra. While these landings were taking place other columns of our troops moved southwards from Diego Suarez. Last reports received yesterday showed that they were making steady progress towards Ambanja, on the west coast.” Mr Churchill announced in the House of Commons that British forces at Madagascar early on Thursday morning assaulted Majunga, Morondava, and Ambanja, key points on the west coast, from which enemy submarines might operate against Allied shipping in the Mozambique Channel. The three places were captured with little opposition and light casualties. Majunga surrendered during the course of the day. and the operations against Morondava and Ambanja were also completely successful. The operations, in which all the three services co-op-erated, were carried out precisely according to plan. British troops and the South African Air Force participated. It is authoritatively confirmed in London that contrary to Vichy statements, no landing occurred on September 8, two days before the British troops landed, either by Fighting French or other forces. There are no Fighting French units in the present force. . , The operations, which are under the general direction of General Sir William Platt, the general who commanded the East African campaign in 1940-41, met with brilliant success. The French forces in Madagascar do not exceed 10,000, of which the bulk are native Malagasy and Senegalese.

OUTRIGHT BREAK WITH. AXIS

MOVE IN ARGENTINA NEW YORK. Sept. 11. “The Argentine Radical and Socialist parties, which have a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, have decided to support two pro-Allied resolutions to be moved in the Chamber,” states the “New York Times,” One Buenos Aires resolution demands an outright break in relations with the Axis, and the other proposes that the declarations and recommendations of the Pan-American Conference at Rio de Janeiro be given force in law and applied immediately. The conference decided that the countries in the Western Hemisphere would aid other American countries involved in war with the Axis. Archbishop Visits Home Fleet.—The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. William Temple) recently paid a formal visit to the Home Fleet at the invitation of the Commander-in-Chief (Admiral Sir John Tovey). This is believed to be the first occasion oiv which the Primate of England has visited the Fleet in war time. The Archbishop preached the Sunday morning sermon on the flagship.—Rugby, September 12. Austrian Patriots—"Austria’s underground movements against Hitler are supported by 90 per cent, of the population,” said the Archduke Otto in a speech in New York. He added that the patriots were ready to revolt when the time was propitious, and he appealed to the Allies to guarantee Austrian independence after the war.— New York. September 12.