Salt Lake Telegram | 1942-05-06 | Page 1 | British in Madagascar Reach Key Naval Base

British in Madagascar hJ y Na ease aas Bitter Resistance Causes Heavy Casualties Washington Washingto Considers Move on Vichy B Bases ses sesBy By Associated Press With waves of bombers bombers bombers' and light tanks the British blasted their way into the outskirts of the thc the Madaga Madagascar car naval base of Diego Suarez Wednesday despite heavy casualties inflicted by the bitterly resisting French co co- co- co An appeal by Pierre Laval's pro- pro German Vichy government for axis aid against the British was forecast forecast forecast fore fore- cast by Free French sources in London after a day of furious activity activity activity ac ac- ac- ac by the Vichy regime Some predicted Laval might declare declare declare de de- clare war on Britain Informed London sources expressed expressed expressed ex ex- ex- ex pressed belief that the British advance advance advance ad ad- vance on the big Indian ocean island was still progressing favorably favorably favorably favor favor- ably after more than 36 hours and said advanced British units already were in the outskirts of Diego Suarez on the northeast tip of the island The small port of on the same bay as Diego Suarez was believed within range of British British British Brit Brit- ish artillery Vichy reports indicated that the f fall all of Diego aDiego Suarez naval base was was imminent R RAF A F warplanes dominated the skies over Diego Suarez and British British British Brit Brit- ish warships were reported in firm command of the surrounding seas A joint British war admiralty-war office acknowledged Continued on Pare Pace Five Column Four