MADAGASCAR OPERATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1942, Page 5

MADAGASCAR OPERATIONS

SOLDIERS’ NARRATIVES.

DURBAN, May 19. ’When British troops appeared off Madagascar, the native troops forming the bulk of the French forces were told that the Japanese were attacking the island. This, according to British wounded who have arrived from Madagascar, is the reason wny the French fought so fiercely until they discovered that the invade-’, o were British. One soldier said that captured French soldiers were generally pleased that the British had come instead of the Japanese. A surprising number showed Free Frenca Sy Another soldier said: “Once they discovered we were not Japanese, toe natives gave us food and drink and pointed out weak spots in the defences. French civilians, however, helped their soldiers by saluting every British soldier, thus giving snipers a fine chance. We lost many men this way.” , Another soldier told how, after tnc British landing in Courier Bay, ,tne troops “hiked” 25 miles straight into battle and found the French entrenched in strong positions, qune fresh, whereas the British _ were tired. “That is why the resistance at first was stiff, but our reinforcements soon arrived,” he said. One of the 50 marines who participated in the surprise landing from a destroyer behind the French defences, and helped to bring a quick offer of surrender from Ahtsirane. said “We located the barracks, the defenders of which were, all asleep except one, who was making tea. We eventually rounded them up and took charge of their guns. No one in this detachment expected to return, but the white flag appeared over the barracks, the defenders of which apparently believed they were confronted with a substantial force. Thus nearly 400 men surrendered io 50 marines.”