BRITISH OPERATIONS IN MADAGASCAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 64, 12 September 1942, Page 7

BRITISH OPERATIONS IN MADAGASCAR

SUCCESS REPORTED

(Rec. 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 11. Mr. Churchill announced .in the House of Commons that our forces in Madagascar early on Thursday morning assaulted Majunga, Morondava, and Ambanja, key points on the west coast from which enemy submarines might operate against our shipping in the Mozambique channel The three places were captured with little opposition arid 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 three Services cooperated, were carried out precisely according to plan. British troops and the South African Air Force partici pated. It is authoritatively confirmed in London that, contrary to Vichy statements, no landing occurred on Sep tember 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 are under the general direction of Sir William Platt, the general who commanded the East African campaign in 1940 and 1941 with brilliant success. The French forces in Madagascar do not exceed 10,000, of which the bulk are native Malagasy and Senegalese. ADVANCE INLAND. The General Officer commanding in East Africa announces that early on Thursday morning our troops effected widespread landings on the west coast of Madagascar, including the island of Nossi Be. in the north, and tne ports of Majunga and Morohdava. 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 Mahabo. on the road to Ambositra. While the landings were taking place, other columns of our troops moved southwards from Diego Suarez. —8.0. W.