OPERATIONS IN MADAGASCAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23743, 15 September 1942, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN MADAGASCAR

BRITISH COLUMNS ADVANCING UNIMPEDED LANDING AT MAJUNGA (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 13. The British land forces continue to make steady progress in the operations, to gain gontrol of the whole of Madagascar. Detailed news has been released of the three British columns which are advancing down Madagascar. British troops have now occupied Majunga, the first important port down the west coast. There was little resistance, and no casualties have been reported. The British disembarkation in Madagascar was put through at high speed and with tremendous drive, state agency reports from Nairobi. The capture of Majunga is said to have been accomplished in three hours. Vichy

forces put up a stubborn resistance in some sectors, but were outnumbered, and casualties on both sides were light. The British forces disembarked just after midnight some miles from the port, and converged on it from three sides. Fighting began at daybreak, and was over before lunch. The French Commander, Colonel Maroin, was slightly wounded and was taken prisoner early in the fight. An official report issued at Nairobi states that during the British landing at Majunga on Thursday, not a single French gun fired at the British forces. The landing forces had heavy naval guns ready to bring their broadsides to bear upon the opposing forces, but did not have to use them. There was no artillery fire of any sort during the operation, and French casualties were very light. “These operations are considered to be a strategic military necessity to the United Nations, bearing in mind the need to free the Mozambique Channel of enemy raiders,” it is stated. “The primary consideration of our troops, therefore, is to cause no French casualties unless action is forced. The entire responsibility for the casualties that occurred lies with the Governor-General and other senior French officials, who chose, and still choose, to sacrifice French lives in deference to Vichy and the Axis.” The central advancing column, which is marching on the capital, Antananarivo, was held up for some time at a river bridge, and a number of enemy cast...Hies were inflicted. Fortyseven prisoners were taken when the bridge was captured, and there were four British wounded, The troops began the river crossing early yesterday morning and are now advancing rapidly on the capital. The third column is also making progress in the direction of Antsirabe. When British forces landed' eight miles north of .Morondava, one part of the force landed' after- midnight eight miles north-east of the town. Transport and artillery were then landed, and the party split into two groups and advanced at dawn. Another force made a frontaj attack on the town, and fierce fighting took place along the beaches and in the streets as the British spread out. The commander was taken prisoner, and after the surrender of headquarters, the fighting ceased.' • A Vichy communique said; “There are no major changes in the Majunga area of Madagascar. A number of Brit, ish tanks succeeded in crossing the Betsiboka river, but fortifications at Maevatanana held them up. French troops are determined to slow up the enemy’s advance.”