“MAINLY SYMBOLIC”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1942, Page 3

“MAINLY SYMBOLIC”

FRENCH RESISTENCE IN MADAGASCAR

MR CHURCHILL SUMS UP.

TRIBUTE TO THE NAVY.

LONDON, September 29

The latest British operations in Madagascar are described in a communique issued by the General Officer Commanding in East Africa. This morning British forces made a further landing at Tulear, on the south-west coast of the island. The port was occupied without opposition. The columns moving east and west along the Tamatare-Antananrivo railway have now made contact, v which means that the principal railway in Madagascar is in British hands. Earlier in the day, Mr Churchill told the House of Commons that the success of the initial landings on Madagascar was due, principally to the speed and efficiency of the Royal Navy. Mr Churchill said that when the British troops entered the capital they were received with goodwill and even enthusiasm. In the northern part of the island resistance had collapsed. He described the French resistance generally as mainly symbolic.

STORY OF CAMPAIGN BRITISH PRIME MINISTER'S OUTLINE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY, September 29. The surrender of Tulear, the remaining port in Southern Madagascar, was announced in the House of Commons by Mr Churchill, who said: "The success of the initial landings in Madagascar and the fact that they were accomplished with only lightest casualties on both sides was due in a great measure to the efficiency of the Royal Navy and the speed with which it ferried troops to the beaches at the right time. Alter the British troops had secured Port Majunga, motorised units of the King’s African Rifles disembarked for an advance to the capital, 300 miles southward. Their first objective was the 1,600 feet long suspension bridge over the Betsiboka River. The French had cut the suspension cables, but, although the centre span had collapsed, infantry crossed and secured a bridgehead against slight opposition. The advance on the capital was resumed almost immediately afterwards. M. Annet on September 16 broadcast an appeal for an armistice and one of our planes went to Antananarivo and brought his plenipoteotiaries to Majunga, where General Platt received them. The French were unable to accept our terms and the delegates left on September 18. Earlier that morning our seaborne forces appeared off Tamatave and called on the town "to surrender. The commander refused and fired on our envoys, but after a brief bombardment the town surrendered. Our troops landed without incident and pursued the retiring French into Brickaville. “The first serious opposition was met when our columns from Majunga were 40 miles from Antananarivo, but this was overcome after two sharp engagements. On entering the capital on September 23 our forces were received with strong demonstrations of goodwill and even enthusiasm. . Operations against the remaining \ ichy French south of the capital arc proceeding. Resistance in the northern part of the island has collapsed and all is now quiet ’in this area. Today 1 have been advised that Tulear has surrendered without any bombardment.