The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-29
Cross of Lorraine HOisted Over Capital of Country
 Last Night REGARDED AS MAJOR
 VISTORy FOR ALLIES Allied Troops Had Been Marching on Djibouti, When Adherence Came
BY WILLIAM B. DICKINSON United Press Staff Correspondent

BY WILLIAM B. DICKINSON United Press Staff Correspondenf)
 London, December 29. (UP) = French Somaliland last stronghold of Viclny or the African continent, has joined the fighting French. General Charles De Gaulle's headquarters announced to- day. The Cross of Lorraine, the Fighting French flag, marking the adhesion of French Somaliland to the Allied cause, was hoisted last night over Djibouti, capital of the territory and terminal of the railroad to Ad- dis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, the communique said.
 A foreign office news department bulletin, announcing that French Sosnaliland had adhered to the United Nations as part of the Fighting French, said the adhesion was effected at 8:15 a. m. yesterday by an agreement signed at Chebe1e, on the Djibouti- i-Addis Ababa rafl~ road.
 Three Signat0ries Signatories were Maj. Gen. c. C. Fowkes, British commander ii1 Ethiopia. and M. Chancel, Fighting French delegate in East Africa m one hand and Gen. DuPont, acting governor of French SomaliIand, on the other.
 British military and diplomatic authorities had been negotiating with French Somaliland authorities during the weekend.
 Then Axis radios announced that Fighting French and British forces had marched into the colony, on the Gulf of Alden just below the Red Sea on the east coast of Africa ana were marching on Djibouti.
 Acquisition of the 8,492 square mile territory, with population of about 45,000 natives and 1700 Eu- ropeans was major Allied victory.
 Commands Strait
 French Somalilarfd commands the narrow Strait of Bab Fl Bandeb between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Alden but above all it is tho starting point for the only rail- road running into Ethiopia, and thus the Allied supply problem into that part of interior Africa is great- ly simplified.
 It was indicated that there had been little if any fighting between the French Somaliland and Allied forces.
 vichy announced the invasion in a broadcast which said reconnaiS- sance planes had sighted Allied col-| umnS of truck-borne troops cross the French Somaliland border from British Somaliland.
 Berlin broadcasts under Vichy dates said the Allied forces were already marching up the main rail- road on Djubouti, the capital. and had reached the vicinity of fha Fibele railroad station after occu- pying the fortified points of Bouet and Megada.
 Allies Believed Near
 It was added that Bouet and Megada were only about two miles west and south of the main defense line of the Vichy forces and it was indicated that by this time the AL lies might be within striking dis tance of Djibouti itself.
 The German controlled Paris Radio said that there had been nothing new since a numerically stronger British force was attacking the smlal garrison at Djibouti last night"
 Over the week end. vichy had made it known that negotIation1 were in progress between British military and diplomatic authoritsz in Ethiopia and French officials et
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