TRAGEDY OF DAMASCUS

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 260, 3 November 1925, Page 7

TRAGEDY OF DAMASCUS

HORRORS OF FRENCH RULE. EIGHTY THOUSAND HOMELESS. FURTHER TROUBLE POSSIBLE. 'By Cable.—rress Association. —Copyright.* (Received 11 a.m. , * LONDON, November 2. The Damascus correspondent of the "Times" says the city remains quiet. The people are thoroughly depressed, but underneath keen irritation and resentment are apparent over the fate that has befallen the city. The trams, have partially resumed running. One of the main bazaars has resumed business, and people who fled the city are gradually returning; but if the townsfolk are subdued, not so the brigands, who are roaming the surrounding districts. None of the roads outside the city gates are safe. The French are doing their best to relieve the situation, but must await heavy reinforcements from France, when they hope to evolve a plan for a comprehensive enveloping movement. The situation is rendered more serious by the daily increasing strength of the bricands. Owinsr to the French burning villages in which thov were reported to have been allowed to take refuse, the villagers thus rendered homeless have been converted into brigands. It is stated now that upwards ot eighty thousand are homeless. I—(Times.)1—(Times.)