FRENCH SOMALILAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1942, Page 3

FRENCH SOMALILAND

JOINS UNITED NATIONS TROOPS ASK FOR ACTIVE SERVICE. NEW GOVERNOR APPOINTED. LONDON. December 29. French Somaliland has joined the United Nations. The capital and port of the .territory, is the terminus of the railway which runs to Addis Ababa. Fighting French officials in London state that a garrison will be maintained in French Somaliland to ensure the defence of the territory. French troops in the colony, who number about a division, have asked to be sent as soon as possible to fight against the enemy. The French National Committee in London has appointed a new Governor of French Somaliland. AGREEMENT SIGNED MEETING AT NAIROBI. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, .December 29. The Foreign Office has announced that a British commander and a Fighting French representative at Nairobi have signed an agreement with General Dupont, Acting Governor of French Somaliland, by which Somaliland adheres to the United Nations, as part of Fighting France. The agreement was signed at Chebele on Monday. NEW GOVERNOR TRANSFERRED FROM EQUITORIAL AFRICA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, December 29. General le Gentilhomme, National Commissioner for War and French High Commissioner in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean has arrived at Jibuti. He has gone to confer with General Dupont, commanding the French forces in that region. French troops in the colony number about a division, and General de Gaulle is, acceding to their urgent request to be transferred to an active theatre of operations as soon as possible. A garrison will, however, be maintained in Somaliland to ensure the defence of that strategically important territory on the Red Sea. M. Andre Mayardelle, a colonial administrator, formerly ’in Equatorial Africa, has been appointed governor and is already in Jibuti. TALKS IN LONDON MR EDEN AND GENERAL DE GAULLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, December 28. The Foreign Secretary, Mr Eden, had a long talk with General de Gaulle, who may delay his departure for the conference with President Roosevelt, says the “Daily Express. The negotiations for full co-operation between General de Gaulle and General Giraud arc progressing satisfactorily. but it should not be assumed that‘'all difficulties have been overcome. Many knotty problems remain. Mr Eden and Mr Roosevelt are .giving every help in the negotiations. The Vichv radio announced that General Giraud has been deprived of his nationality. The radio added that troops and civilians in North Afnca must not obey General Giraud.

LULL INDICATED

CAIRO OFFICIAL REPORT.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, December 29. A Cairo communique states: “Yesterday there was nothing to report from our troops in contact with the enemy in a wadi 1 in the Bei-El Kebir aiea. There was only slight air activity over the battle area. “Tunis and La Goulettc were bombed on Sunday night. Fires were started near the railway marshalling yard. All our aircraft returned.”