NEW ALLIED DRIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 126, 29 April 1941, Page 5

NEW ALLIED DRIVE

INTO FRENCH SOMALILAND. DE GAULLE TO FORE. (United Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 12 noon) VICHY, April 28. Official advice lias been received from Djibuti that a column of General de Gaulle’s Free French troops, supported by British motorised forces, has attacked French Somaliland from Daouanleli, on the Addis Ababa-Djibuti railway. Earlier, the Vichy Government announcod that de Gaulle troops,, supported by British mechanised units, had massed along the southern border oi French Somaliland. Tins Minis Irv lor llic Colonies liad

Earlier, the Vichy Government announced that de Gaulle troops,\ supported by British mechanised units, had massed along the southern border ot french Somaliland. The Ministry, tor the Colonies had given the necessary instructions to the Governor of French Somaliland to prevent the colony going over to de Gaulle. Jt was added that the Free French troops were concentrated a.t a point on the Djibuti-Addis Ababa railway and that other forces had disembarked at Zeila, the seaport of British Somaliland, about 2.5 miles south-east of i)jibuti. The Free French forces distributed pamphlets by aeroplane over all the military posts in the interior of French Somaliland, calling on the troops to go to Daouanleh or Zeila with their arms. The Vichy News Agency says that, although negotiation is possible regarding the transport of food and the evacuation of the wounded along the Addis Ababa-Djibuti railway, there can' be no question of French Somaliland negotiating with the • diss.dent French.