ORDEAL OF DAMASCUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 257, 30 October 1925, Page 7

ORDEAL OF DAMASCUS.

!HORRORS OF BOMBARDMENT SITUATION IN SYRIA. FRENCH PRESS ANXIOUS. (By Cable.— Press Association.—Copyright) (Received 1.30 p.m.) PARIS, October 29. Newspapers are anxious regarding the situation in Syria. The "Echo de Paris" says that the President (AI. Doumergue/ requested M Painleve to do what was necessary tc re-establish tranquillity at any cost. A correspondent of the same papei accuses General Sarrail of pro-Turkish and anti-Arab leanings and upholding Turkish Freemasonry. "Figaro" and "Matin' , criticise General Sarrail's alleged failure to supplj information. The ''Matin" says that General Sarrail's reports talk about the weather and the dearness of living, with a postscript of two lines with regard tc the gravest events. The paper declares that General Sarrail's lack of balance is damaging the prestige of France in the world.— (Reuter.) CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS. FRENCH COLUMN CUT OFF. ' LONDON, October 29. A message from Paris states that the President, M. Doumergue, urgently summoned the Premier, M. Painleve, and drew his attention to the serious nature of reports from Damascus. He instructed M. Painleve to take instant steps to deal with the situation, which was imperilling France's prestige and also French lives and property. .It is feared that in spite of the civil evacuation of Damascus a military retire- ' ment will be necessary. i It is announced that 10,000 French re- : inforcements are en route to Syria, inj eluding some troops from Morocco. ' The French newspapers denlore the administration of General Sarrail, and express regret that he has obstinately rejected a broad hint that he should return. A British refugee asserts that the French bombardment of Damascus killed 300 French people and several thousand Syrians. It is semi-officially explained in Paris that when General Gamelin's column left Damascus, leaving behind a small French garrison, the Druses began looting. The garrison, fearing it would be overwhelmed, decided to shell t the quarter which the Druses must cross if they attempted to attack the garrison. / The full story of the Damascus affair has not yet been published in France. The War Ministry stated that it was not in a position to confirm or deny the story of the bombardment. The Foreign Ministry has issued a statement to the effect that the events have been exaggerated. The Press, however, does not accept the denials or attempt to minimise the matter. The "Daily Express" specially cabled to the secretary of the Palestine Arab Congress respecting the recent message from Jerusalem. The rer>ly states that the number of women and children who were buri?d under the ruins has still not been verified, but that fugitives insist on the truth of their previous statements. The message asserts that the French are suppressing the correct news. The : bombardment of the densest quarters of I the city lasted for 50 hours. A Paris message says: General Gamelin's powerful column of artillery, cavi airy, three regiments of infantry and I tanks, which was retreating from MousJ seifra, has been surrounded by Druses in the Syrian desert. The troops are desperately endeavouring to fight their way to safety. The report is confirmed in a telegram from Bagdad.— ("Times.") I i