VIOLENT FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1942, Page 3

VIOLENT FIGHTING

REPORTED IN MADAGASCAR

Progress Made by British Forces

IN SPITE OF DETERMINED RESISTANCE

FRENCH SUBMARINE AND GUNBOAT SUNK

LONDON, May 6

The British forces in Madagascar are meeting with determined resistance. Both London and Vichy communiques speak of fierce fighting. Tonight’s news from. Madagascar states that fighting is growing fiercer, particularly for possession of the vital naval base of Diego Suarez. A communique issued in London states that our troops are meeting with determined resistance and that casualties were heavier today. With the support of naval aircraft operations are still going on. A Vichy report records violent fighting in Madagascar. A message received from the Governor-General states that the situation is critical. French troops are offering bitter resistance. . , The British naval forces include an aircraft carrier, vzhose planes are attacking’ the naval base. Earlier today it was officially staled by Vichy that two French vessels had been sunk, a submarine and a 2000-ton g’nnboat. They were sunk while trying to prevent the British landing. . Vichy and Axis reports said that the first landing iorces consisted of British paratroops. The attack started at Courier Bay, across the 10-mile wide isthmus, .British control of which would cut off the naval base from the rest of Madagascar. An agency message from Vichy today says that a strong force is resisting in the naval base, ft adds that the British force has not yet completely occupied the base, jdt it is now m possession of the entire peninsula. Mr Cordell Hull, United States Secretary of State, has now received Laval’s Note protesting against American support for the British landing in Madagascar. Mr Hull said he was not in a position to say yet whether Vichy’s action in resisting the British force could be taken as a warlike attack against the United States Government.