SIDON OCCUPIED

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

SIDON OCCUPIED

ALLIES PUSH EAST Reports Of Steady Advance; Defences Crumbling United *■ Tress Association.—Copjrlght. Rec. 3 p.m. LONDON, June 12. The Allies are reported to have occupied Sidon, to have advanced to Hasbeiya from Merjiyun and to be pushing on east from Kiswe. Vichy accounts of heavy fighting are described as being grossly exaggerated. presumably in an effort to stir up anti-British feeling. The main points of resistance so far have been at Litani and just north of Metulah, including Merjiyun. Resistance has also been considerable at Damascus, where the Allies are battering the defences with tanks.

A Cairo report states that the Allies are in the southern suburbs of the capital.

Vichy does not admit that Sidon has fallen. The defenders are entrenched in orange groves round the town and are meeting continuous Australian attacks supported lw tanks and a battleship. Two cruisers and five destroyers have been shelling the town incessantly for three days, it is claimed.

Officers from Syria who are joining the Allies in considerable numbers, reveal that General Dentz, in an effort to bolster the loyalty of the Vichy troops, has granted big increases in pay.

The "Dagens Nyheter*' says the Germans will probably release many French prisoners for France's colonial army. France is also expected to enrol men demobilised for service in Syria.

Germans do not expect the British to encounter stern resistance from the French and predict early and active German intervention.

The "Basler Nachrichten"' (Swiss) says Germany is relaxing the armistice conditions to help Vichy with arms and equipment for Syria.