SYRIAN CAMPAIGN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 227, 8 July 1941, Page 8

SYRIAN CAMPAIGN

FASTER ADVANCE ALONG COAST.

BRITISH NOW NEAR BEIRUT. RIOTING AMONG NATIVE TROOPS. (United PreRS Association.—Copyright.l LONDON, July 6. The recently increased momentum of the Allied campaign in Syria has been further accelerated in the last two days, particularly toward Beirut and Homs the chief town of northern Syria. The Allies have now crossed the' Damour river, about 10 miles south of Beirut and are taking up positions from which the final offensive against Beirut should not bo long delayed. This crossing and the subsequent capture of El Goum represent a sharp advance in the Allied coastal drive.

The initial crossing of the Damour river followed an intensive Royal Air .Force -hammering of Vichy troops who were strongly entrenched on the north bank and .also bombardments from the sea.

A heavy air attack was simultaneously launched against Biet el Din, 11 miles to the south-east of Beirut, on which the left Vichy flank rests.

Recent victories in the Jezzin sector have enabled a strengthening of the right flank of the Allied coastal column. In the Merjiyun sector the Allies have shelled the Viehv forces out of Hasbeiya, hut Viehv forces still possess a number of points near the town.

The Allied column from Damascus is steadily progressing along the precipitous Damascus-Beirut road in spite of an intense bombardment from Mazzar, and is expected shortly to he in a position seriously to threaten Beirut.

Meanwhile the rapid Allied advance continues in central Syria. The armoured column which captured Palmyra has now reached a point 25 miles from Homs. Allied forces are also moving steadily toward Aleppo from En Nebk, Dcit-ez Zor and Tel Kotchek, in the nqrth-east. The whole of northern Syria, is now threatened:

.A message from Istanbul states that Senegalese and other native troops have started, rioting and looting and disobeying the orders of their officers. ,Iho Ankara correspondent of the ‘‘ijJcw York Times” says that Allied forces, most of them Australians, are Within six miles of Beirut, while other" columns from Iraq are occupying valuable territories' adjacent to Turkey and Iraq. The Ankara, correspondent of the Associated Press of America says it is understood that General Dentz has rejected British proposals for a “painless armistice” giving his troops the option of joining General de Gaulle or returning to France. General Dentz said ho -was determined to fight to the end, but British sources believe the end is near.- 1 .

Crossing of the Damur, cyA special correspondent with the Australian forces in Syria, writing of the crossing of the Damur river, says: “The. Australians launched an infantry offensive preceded by an hour’s very heavy barrage. In, the early hours of "Sunday they reached the first objective,!; crossing the river at two points and wading through the shallow water, hut experiencing the greatest difficulty :in .ascending the sharp banks of the

Darnin', which runs in a gorge. “Rushing through to the battle ground, we could see flashes of guns on the horizon in the three-quarter moonlight. The barrage put up by medium and light field artillei'y and heavy howitzers was terrific, “When the infantry started the advance the bombardment of the Vichy concentrations was increased. The Navy and the Royal Air Force both gave the Australians splendid support. It was some time before they started their bombardment of the Vichy concentrations because of poor visibility. “At the time of writing this message from a small house on the shore of the Mediterranean, wo can not only see the fire of the Navy, but hear the tremendous noise of the shells reaching their destination. “As for the R.A.F., their fighters, in splendid formation, are always in the sky, making an impassable screen should Vichy pianos attempt to attack the Fleet. As the battle raged with Vichy gunners replying to the British fire with their 75,s mortars, and a few 102’,s and 420’s; guerilla warfare was proceeding along the mountainous road.” It is reliably reported from Istanbul that Turkey has refused Marshal Pctain’s request for the transit of troops and munitions to Syria. All reports agree that whatever the Vichy envoy, M. Mecliin, asked for was refused. M. Mechin has arrived hack in Vichy with the Turkish reply. A correspondent with the British forces in Syria says that a loaded French troop transport is reported to have been sunk near the Turkish coast.