SETBACK FOR VICHY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1940, Page 5

SETBACK FOR VICHY

IN EQUATORIAL AFRICA FREE FRENCH OPERATIONS. CAPTURE OF LAMBARENE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 8. A communique issued by General de Gaulle’s headquarters describes the capture of Lambarene, in French Equatorial Africa, which was surrounded by Free French forces. The communique states: — “After the events at Dakar the Vichy Vichy Government believed it could use Gaboon as a base for recapturing Equatorial Africa. General de Gaulle accordingly took precautions. Two columns under the commander of the Free French Forces in Equatorial Africa, General de I’Arminat, marched across Gaboon, one from the Cameroons and the other from the port of Pointe-Noire. “The first column occupied Tyem, where it was immediately joined by the garrison, while the second column occupied Mayumba Sindara. “This success brought the greater part tff Gaboon under General de Gaulle, whereupon the Vichy authorities established strong defences along the Ogowe River from Lambarene to Njole. These defences covered the capital of Gaboon, Libreville, and Port Gentil, one of the chief ports of French Equatorial Africa, and extended via Lalara and Mitjik as far as Spanish Guinea. The Free French forces crossed the difficult region and vigorously pressed the defences, capturing Mitjik on October 30, Lalara on November 1, and Njole on November 2.

“The columns joined up in front of Lambarene, which was strongly defended. The Free French troops, after laborious operations, encircled the town, which was captured on Tuesday. The Vichy air force incessantly bombed and machine-gunned our forces. Only Libreville and Port Gentil remain in the possession of Vichy.”

The military governors of Tunisia and Morocco, the 8.8. C. reports, have arrived at Vichy to confer with Marshal Petain. M. Laval is said to be awaiting the result of General Weygand’s activities in North Africa before resuming his conversations with the Germans.