BEING MISLED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 138, 13 June 1941, Page 7

BEING MISLED

EVIL PROPAGANDA Resistance By Vichy Troops In Syria British Official Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, June 12. In Syria yesterday. Allied forces made further important progress in all sectors. Misled by incorrect information regarding the objects of British penetration. Vichy troops are offering resistance in certain areas, making the use of force necessary to prevent. obstruction to the advance. When these men have been overrun, many expressed sympathy with Ihe Allied object, the preserving ot' Syria from German penetration.

Jn Syria the advance along the coast road is continuing. Cur forces are on the outskirts of Sidon. A column is advancing inland and approaching the outskirts of Damascus.

It is pointed out that Vichy, either at the insistence of Germany or on its own account, appeared to be exaggerating its losses — possibly with a view to embittering the struggle. Obviously it is in German interests that Britain and Vichy should become embroiled in war, and one way of ensuring this is apparently to exaggerate \"ichy resistance and the bitterness of the fighting. The R.A.I'. Middle East communique says: "In Syria our aircraft gave full support to our advancing troops both by constant fighter patrol and by reconnaissance flights. Aleppo aerodrome was raided on Tuesday night. Bombs fc.i on dispersed aircraft on the runaway.-, and on buildings. causing a number of fires. "Shipping in the n T Brim' was attacked by the ri A.l'. rmd •hr | Fleet Air Arm. One Vichy aircraft was shot down."