Evening star., 1942-09-10
Planes and Fleet
OF Ships Used
In Dawn Attack
SuIvo After SuIvo
Poured on Hurbor;
Troops Are Strofed
BULLETIN.

Troops Are Strufed
BULLETIN.
LONDON H9.-The British
announced tonight that fur
ther operations, begun in
Madagascar this morning,
were continuing satisfac-
torily."
By the Associated Press.
VICHY, Sept. 10.-The British
opened a general offensive
against the West Coast of NADIA
gascar at dawn today, attacking
the ports of Ambania, Majunga
and Morondava with planes and
Is warships, it was announced
tonight.
Concentrated shelling ushered in
the offensive, a renewal of hostilities
on the big French island in the
western Indian Ocean which light
ened after the British captured the
big naval base of Diego Suarez at
the northern tip of the island May 8.
Qn Washington, the State De-
partment announced this after
noon that Britainss further mill
tary operation" looking toward
complete occupation of NADIA =
gascar had been taken with full
approval of the United States)
Troops Bombed, Strafed.
The 18 warships poured salvo after
salvo of shells into Majunga Harbor,
$40 miles southwest of Diego Suarez,
while planes bombed and strafed
French troop concentrations as far
inland as 100 miles.
The shelling continued tonight,
apparently preparing for a general
troop landing.
The attack came two days after
an unsuccessful landing attempt
by Fighting French forces, the gov
eminent said.
The French said the British at
Majunga 'had means at their dis
posal at least as powerful as those
used at Diego Suarez."
Gateway to Capital Attacked.
The size of the fleets off Moron
dava, $50 miles southwest of Diego
Suarez, and off Ambanja, about 100
miles below the naval base, was not
estimated.
Majunga is the gateway to Tanan-
arrive, capital of the island. The
French said the De Gaullists at
tempted to land about 10 miles
north of there
The communique on the attack
said:
"All the French fay this unquali-
fable aggression"
The communique added that the
defenders were fighting "in unequal
conditions for the interest and
honor of France"
Majunga Key Port.
The conquest of Majunga would
give the British and Fighting French
key port. the largest in the island,
and main railhead to the interior.
The Allies have been cut off from
the interior, even with their pos
session of Diego Suarez, because
that northern base is isolated from
the Malgasy highway and the ex-
ssting railways.
The smaller port of Ambanja is
a control point for the only over
land highway with the rest of the
island-a dry weather dirt road
which must be used, if at all, be-
fore the rainy season starts in No
eember.
The other British objective at
Morondava is the third most i'm
portant port after Majunga and
Diego Suarez, controlling the straits
of Mozambique, which separate
Madagascar from Africa.
1t also is rail head and it's oc-
eupancy would enable the British
to execute a flank attack on Tana-
narive from the south.
Thus, the new offensive would
appear to be part of the final phase
of British plans for occupying the
island and winning complete con-
troll of the Western Indian Ocean.
Mayotte Island Occupied.
They started last May 5, with the
successful attack on the French
naval base of Diego Suarez, one OF
the most important harbors in the
Indian Ocean. Occupation of the
northern tip of Madagascar was
completed in few days. Until now
there had been few encroachments
southwark.
On July Q, the British occupied
Mayotte Island. a stepping stone
across-or a barrier blocking-the
Straits of Mozambique, between
Madagascar and the mainland.
Outside of Mozambique itself
which is Portuguese, the occupation
Of Madagascar would mean British
possession of all territory bordering
the Indian Ocean west of Japanese
occupied Burma.
After the British obtained theil
foothold on Madagascar, Japanes,
submarines attacked shipping il
Diego Suarez harbor May 81. Th'
British announced four days late
that a British patrol had shot TIVE
japanese naval officers who resisted
capture in village along the coast
BY that time the British held po.
sitions 25 miles south of Diego
Suarez.
Submarine sinkings of Allied ship.
IN the Mozambique Channel between
Madagascar and the east coast o1
Africa flared up in July and the
German radio reported another
There yesterday.
a