LARGE VICHY FORCE OVERWHELMED
Brief Clash In Madagascar (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 20. A communique from East African Headquarters says: “Early yesterday our forces advancing southward of Ambositra on the road to Fianarantsoa outflanked, attacked, and within three hours overwhelmed a considerable Vichy force holding strong positions at the Iva to crossroads. We took 50 prisoners, including Colonel Motras, commander of the Ist Mixed Malagassay Regiment. Losses have been reported on our side. “One of Colonel Motras’s battalion commanders, Lieutenant-Colonel Pensereau. had previously fallen into our hands. The total prisoners taken during the operation around Ambositra now exceeds 800 with two guns and a large number of mortars and heavy machineguns. “Our troops are well southward of Ambositra and are clearing the road of the usual obstructions.” VICHY, October 20.
A Madagascar communique states: “A British attack was made yesterday against positions in the Ambositra sector, preceded by a systematic bombardment in which 1000 shells were dropped on our improvised trenches. Our troops, though hardpressed from every side, obliged the enemy to retreat.”
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Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 23, 22 October 1942, Page 5
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174LARGE VICHY FORCE OVERWHELMED Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 23, 22 October 1942, Page 5
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