The story of huge, thinly settled Madagascar may not yet be finished. Last week two Japanese naval officers, in civilian clothes, scampered for cover near British-occupied Diégo-Suarez, scorned surrender, got shot.
The Japanese were unhappy about Britain’s prior lease on the strategically rich Diégo-Suarez naval base (TIME, May 18). They showed their anger by a surprise submarine attack in which they claimed last week to have damaged a British battleship and a light cruiser. The British Admiralty admitted the attack, but said there had been no casualties. Meanwhile, British forces groping southward a few miles from Diégo-Suarez found that the Vichyfrench had not yet given up. Neither had the Japanese. Probably sneaking ashore from Jap submarines, the two late officers undoubtedly had important plans.
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