The Wilmington morning star., 1942-05-08
BRITISH TAKE
DIEGO SUAREZ
Continued from Page One)

area, Antirana, and the Diego
Suarez naval base itself.
The last is deep in the bay south
west of Antsirana, which was cap
tured by a main attack from the
south supported by the diversion
action of Royal marines landed in
the north.
Aside from the main ground
thrusts north and east, subsidiary
land force moved northeast from
Ambararata bay.
Immediately the fighting ceased,
it was stated here, British mine
sweepers began clearing the mar
row mouth of Diego Suarez bay in
preparation for the entry of the en-
tire British naval squadron.
This and other measures, said an
informed source, would be part of
prompt British action to assure
control by the United Nations of
the whole island and it's 3,000-mile
coastline and to convert Diego
Suarez into base for Allied naval
operations in the Indian ocean.
It was said that the harbor al
ready had adequate refuelling facil-
tiles for submarines and other
small naval craft; whether the in
stallations had been substantially
damaged during the fighting was
not known.
Alternatives
To complete occupation of the
worlds fourth largest island the
British have the alternatives of
moving southwark $50 miles over
the few highways or sending fleet
units to the four other generally
used ports, none of which is valu-
able from a naval standpoint. The
most important of these is Tama-
tave on the east coast. The others
are Tulear, which also has an air
field, Majunga and Port Dauphin.
Churchill's announcement of the
successful conclusion of the major
action - which was intended to
thwart Axis designs on Diego
Suarez - was brief and subdued.
"In order to prevent bloodshed
as far as possible" he said, Every
strong forces of all arms were en-
ployed and preparations were made
over the last three months.
LANDINGS, as already made pub
lie, were successfully accomplished,
and by Tuesday evening our troops
were in contact with French forces
in and before Diego Suarez and be-
fore the promontory of Antsirana
and the promontory or Oranjia.
'"The first assault on the Ant
sirana position at dawn yesterday
was repulsed with losses that may
have exceeded 1000 men, but Major
General Sturges of the Royal
marines, who commands the troops
on the island, attacked during last
night and captured the promontory
of Antsirana.
''The French naval and military
commanders surrendered. The town
of Diego Suarez also was captured.
early this morning a further
attack was made on the batteries
at Oranjia in the entrance to the
harbor.
"These now have surrendered
and a Protocol has been drawn up
between the commanders of either
side.
{" "Minesweepers, forming part of
a powerful covering force left un-
der Admiral Seyfret, which had
been assembled, have already begun
their work and it is expected that
the fleet will enter the harbor about
$3.50 this afternoon.
"These operations, which are
not without risks of various kinds.
have been carried out with great
dash and vigor.
1.-THE French also fought with
great gallantry and discipline. We
grieve that bloodshed has occurred
between troops of two countries
whose peoples at heart are united
against the common foe.
eve trust that the French ma
ton will in time to come regard
this episode as a recognizable fact
in the liberation of their country,
including Alsace-Lorraine, from the
German yoke