OPERATIONS IN MADAGASCAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN MADAGASCAR

BRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUES

ROAD BLOCKS CAUSE DELAYS

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 19. The latest officials news of the operations in Madagascar is given in the following communique from the British Headquarters in East Africa: “Following their successful engagement with French forces south of Andriba, on the road from Majunga to Atananarivo, our troops continued to advance, although their rate of progress was still reduced by numerous road obstructions which were being encountered. In spite of these delays, however, our leading troops yesterday had reached a point north of the town of Ankazobe, and within 90 miles of the capital, which is now also threatened from the east by a force which landed yesterday at the port of Tamatave. “On the north-west coast, the speed of tbe southward movement of our column is being restricted by the systematic burning of bridges ordered by the French command, and by numerous other obstacles. “Our troops, moving southward along the east coast from Vohcmar, were yesterday reported to be approaching Sahambava.”

CONFIDENCE IN ALLIED CAUSE

CHINESE ATTITUDE (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Sept. 18. The occasion of the eleventh anniversary of the attack on Mukden on September 18, 1931, with which the Japanese began the campaign in Manchukuo, the Chinese Ambassador to London said: “Our purpose in commemorating this day is not to allocate the responsibility for the failures of the past, but rather to stress the fact which China has tried hard to point out to the world in all her years of struggle, suffering, and sacrifice, that international aggression, wherever it arises, is a matter of general concern and must be dealt with by Concerted action.

"To-day the liberty-loving peoples are fighting shoulder to shoulder the forces of aggression in the East and West, as their common foes, and. though the United Nations are not yet out of the wood, I feel certain that their cause will triumph in the end."

WAR IN CHINA

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Sept. 19. A Chungking communique states: “Inflicting considerable casualties, the Chinese forces repulsed 1000 Japanese, who were pushing eastward against Chungtun and Lotun from Hwaiyang.

India's Naval Defences.—ViceAdmiral Sir Herbert Fitzherbert. Flag Officer Commanding the Royal Indian Navy, after a week’s inspection of naval establishments stated that all major Indian ports have been turned into naval bases differing in size. The main bases are at Karachi, Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta,—Bombay, September 19.