GOOD PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1942, Page 4

GOOD PROGRESS

MADE BY BRITISH FORCES IN MADAGASCAR STIFF RESISTANCE MET. NAVAL BASE ISOLATED FROM REST OF ISLAND. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY, May 6. A joint Admiralty War Office communique states: “The advance of our forces' in Northern Madagascar is being resisted with determination, and casualties today were heavier. Operations continue in intense heat, with the support of our naval aircraft.” It has been learned in London that the resistance of the Vichy troops in Madagascar stiffened as the attack developed. The British forces yesterday advanced twenty miles from Courier Bay towards the Diego Suarez, but the naval base had not been captured last night. Operations are proceeding. FRENCH LOSSES SUBMARINE AND AUXILIARY CRUISER. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 6. It is officially announced in Vichy that during the first attacks on the arsenal at Diego Suarez the French submarine Beziers and the auxiliary cruiser Bougainville were sunk. Almost all the members of the crews were sav-. ed. Vichy reports that the Diego Suarez naval base is cut off from the rest of the island, and adds that British forces have reached Diego Suarez, but have not completely occupied it. A strong force is resisting in the naval base at Diego Suarez. The British now have complete possession of the entire Ambre Peninsula, from Courier Bay to Diego Suarez. A New. York message states that Vichy and British forces are fighting in the streets of Diego Suarez. NO ASSISTANCE FOR THE FRENCH FORCES. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) VICHY, May 6. The Government announced that it was in no position to assist the French forces in Madagascar. SOUTH AFRICAN VIEW STRUGGLE MAY BE SHORT. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, May 6. The “Rand Mail” says: “A new conflict between Britons and Frenchmen is painful to many, but the struggle is unlikely to be as sanguinary as was that in Syria, since the French garrison in Madagascar is understood to be relatively small. If the fight is prolonged, many complications may arise, as the British problem is to seize the island without bringing the .whole French fleet against the Allies.”

ANOTHER STORY REINFORCEMENTS FROM DAKAR. SAID TO HAVE REACHED MADAGASCAR. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. The latest reports from Vichy state that the garrison of Madagascar has been reinforced from Dakar, and the fighting is growing fiercer. Waves of British planes are bombing the Diego Suarez naval base, and the light naval forces there. The French positions have also been bombarded by a British fleet, which has been reinforced. General Guillemet (Commander-in-Chief) has reported to Vichy: “We are continuing our resistance in the outer trenches of the Diego Suarez fortress. Every French plane able to take off is engaged.” The Berlin radio, quoting reports from Vichy, suggests that British forces have occupied the Comoro and Reunion Islands. The fate of these islands is closely linked with that of Madagascar. No news has reached Vichy from either group of islands. The British United Press correspondent at Vichy says that the tvvo French cruisers Marseillaise and Lamotte Piquet are missing, following on the British attack on Madagascar. It is stated that they may have joined the British or may be attempting to rejoin the French fleet at Saigon. The Vichy news agency says that as soon as the British ships attacked Diego Suarez, the sloop Bougainville and the submarines Le Heros and Bezeviers went forward to attack. The Bougainville and Beveziers were sunk by gunfire as they launched a torpedo attack on troop transports. The crews of the warships got ashore and organised coastal defences. The British losses include light tanks.