MADAGASCAR

Evening Star, Issue 24297, 11 September 1942, Page 3

MADAGASCAR

VICHY HOT AMBLE BRITISH OPERATIONS RENEWED (British Official Wireless.) (ißec. 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 10. Britain has issued a declaration stating that after the occupation of Diego Suarez Britain had hoped the Governor-General of Madagascar would allow the British command to take such steps as it considered necessary in order to deny the Axis Powers bases and facilities elsewhere in the island. The attitude of Vichy, however, had compelled Britain reluctantly to undertake further military operations. Once Madagascar was willing~to enter into full collaboration with tho United Nations Britain would extend to the island the same benefits accorded other French territories which had joined the United Nations. A War Office communique ’stated that, in accordance with this decision, operations in Madagascar began early this morning and were continuing satisfactorily. AMERICA SUPPORTS BRITAIN (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 10. The State Department in Washington announced that Britain had found it absolutely necessary to make further attacks in Madagascar, of which the United States fully approved. “BUDAPEST IS SMOKING” RAID BY RUSSIAN BOMBERS FREEDOM RADIO'S DISCLOSURES (IRec.' 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10. Answering the official statement from Budapest that the Russian bombers caused only minor damage in Budapest on Wednesday night, the Hungarian Freedom Radio says very heavy damage was done, “The Russians dropped high explosives of tho heaviest calibre and also thousands of incendiaries, which set fire to a chemical works and damaged a bridge across the Danube. They also attacked shipping _ on the Danube. Budapest’s poor anti-aircraft defences could not cope with the situation, and many people were killed in the streets because of the lack of raid shelters. Budapest to-day is smoking.” Russian bombers raided Berlin last night. The Berlin radio said the raiders were over the outskirts and that no bombs fell in the centre of the city. JEWS IN FRANCE STEPS TO CHECK PERSECUTION PGF£ SUPPORTS FRENCH CHURCHMEN NEW YORK, September 10. “ It is semi-officially reported that the Pope is personally sending a message to Marshal Petain ' approving of the initiative of the French, cardinals and bishops in favour of the Jews, and also requesting Petain’s intervention ‘ to prevent a continuation of the wave of horror on the soil of Christian France,’ ” says the Berne correspondent of the ' New, York Times.’ Simultaneously reports from France reveal a general feeling of uneasiness because the Vatican’s protest lias created a difficult situation tor the Government. Devout Roman Catholics, who have hitherto been Petain’s most reliable supporters, resent the official anti-Jewish persecution. Even the French Legion, which Petain regarded as the bulwark of ■ his Government, is becoming lukewarm, and will be reorganised. Observers at Vichy say that Laval is fully aware of these sentiments, and is therefore striving gradually to eliminate from public positions all who practise tolerance. BELGIAN HOSTAGES LONDON, September 10. A Stockholm message states that 59 prominent citizens of Brussels were arrested as hostages following the throwing of a bomb in a cinema during the screening of a German propaganda film. One girl was killed and many persons were injured. TARGETS M ITALIAN SOIL VISITS FROM THE R.A.F. (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.20. a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 10. Targets on the Italian mainland have been attacked by the R.A.F. on 10 occasions this year. Targets in Sicily have been attacked 59 times, and targets on other Italian islands in tho Mediterranean on numerous occasions. Sir Archibald Sinclair gave these figures replying to a House of Commons question. * AUSTRALIA'S ARMY STUPENDOUS TASK AHEAD CANBERRA, September 10. “ It is essential tor the preservation of freedom that Australia's civil needs must ho subordinated to the needs of the fighting forces, which have before them a stupendous task,” said tho Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, in the House of Representatives. “ Tho strength of tho army is less than 1 and the command would like it to be. In the absence of air and sea supremacy I am not prepared to detract from tho strength of the army by allowing men to bo withdrawn from it to engage in other occupations. The work of those now in tho army must he done by those previously in non-essential occupations. For the next six months tho problem of tho United Nations will be so stupendous that it is not conceivable that wo in Australia should expect to ho given anything that we can provide for ourselves.” Mr Curtin said he knew of no easy road ahead until the enemy had been dealt a serious blow—until the initiative had been wrested from him. So much shipping would be required for forces equal to the launching of an offensive in tho South-west Pacific that its allocation could not reasonably be expected in the near future. Highly-trained troops, ho added, had to be held as reinforcements for the Ninth Division of the A.I.F. in the Middle East. That-was one reason why Australia’s army had to be maintained at maximum strength. The obligation to hold Australia had to ho met promarily by Commonwealth man power and resources. Tho urgent need of supplying Russia and the Middle East would prevent any great increase of that could come to Australia.