The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-05-06
Madagascar
Continued from Page II

Madagascar
Continued from Page II
such warlike acts against the
British landing forces but has
ordered them, and ordered them
with Vehemence. Therefore if
such action is regarded as IAN
attack upon the United Nations
as a whole" all French overseas
based under Vichy control must
be regarded as hostile bases.
Informed sources did not at
tack great weight to Lavals as
sertion that, despite American
support of the British Madagas-
car action, Vichy would not
make a first move toward rup-
ture of relations with the Unit
ed States. The important fact,
they said, was not Vichy's will
lingneSS or unWillingneSS to
continue formal relations but
Vichy'S willingness to engage in
warlike actions against United
Nations forces.
At Martinique an aircraft car
rier-the Bcarn-and two cruis-
CrS are at the disposal of the
Vichy government. In the hands
of a regime VaCillating between
collaboration with Germany
and neutrality toward the Unit
cd States even such small
force and its base of operations
so near the Panama Canal has
been a source of watChful anX-
iety in Washington.
DRASTIC SIGNIFICANCE
In the hands of a government
actively engaged in fighting
United Nations forces, Mar
Unique and the forces stationed
there take on new and drastic
significance. That is why Oh
servers here expect a solution to
the problem of Martinique to be
announced very soon.
Vichv, already frankly mott
fled on Monday that the United
States will not hesitate" to
back the British with force if
necessary, was warned again
by Secretary Of State Hull yes
terday that American ships and
troops we're ready.
Hull did not disclose this gov
ernmcntS intentions with re-
gard to French possessions in
the Panama Canal defense area.
He told his press conference
merely that Martinique was re-
cciving attention along with
other phases Of the French stu
alton and that this government
would determine from day to
day what it would do to meet
the emergency Of the moment.
(ViChy described the Bou-
granville variously as a light
cruiser and an auxiliary cruis-
or but James Fighting Ships
list only a 2.156 ton French
sloop Of that name. A German
broadcast said the ship was an
auxiliary cruiser converted
from the 7llO-ton passenger
steamer Bougainville Of tn G
French shipping Company
charges RcuniS of lie HavreD
The third French ship par
ticipating i'm the attack. de
sCribcd here as a small AuXil-
larry cruiser, was reported dam
aged but apparently was able
to make her way back to Diego
| SuarCz.
| CREWS REACH SHORE
Word from Madagascar said
most Of the crews Of the sub
marine and the Bougainvllle
we're able TO reach shore.
(Thc sea engagement appar.
emily took place in Courier
Bay, on the west side of the
northern tip Of Madagascar and
opposite the naval base. Dis.
patches from Vichy said the sur.
viving crew members fought of
the British Courier Bay land.
ing until achievements took
over the coastal defenSe)
Reports reaching Vichy up to
noon gave no indication Of the
course Of the battle against the
British landing force other than
Governor General Armand An
nets report that the first line
|of dcfcnScS was being held.
One French source said sew
cral British planes had been
shot down by anti-aircraft guns
yesterday. Some Of the light
tanks which the British were
said TO have put into action
ashore were reported destroyed
ANNOUNCE INVASION
n @ W papers in unoCcupied
France announced the news of
the British landing on the big
French island for the first time
this morning. The story was
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