DAMASCUS RIOTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18525, 29 October 1925, Page 9

DAMASCUS RIOTS.

ANTI FRENCH RISING, j I TERRIBLE RETRIBUTION. CITY SUBJECTED TO HEAVY FIRE. cable—raxss association—cortiiOHf.) IEEVTZS'S TELSGKAMSJ (Received October 23th, 7.3-3 p.m.) C.VIUO, October 27. Varying: reports from Dc.nia.scus indicate that the town passed through, a terrible ordeal between October ISth. and October 20th. It, bears jfars of the relentless measures taken to suppress the riots following the action of the French in parading the corpses or bandits in street*. A traveller from Damascus says that during the afternoon of October ISth a hand of men, headed by Chief Hassan Elkr-rreth, penetrated into the Chagour quarter, shouting: "Fuse up! Your brothers, the Druses, arc here." They attacked the police post and shot dead a French officer. The inhabitants of the quarter armed themselves and joined the insurgents. All advanced towards the Medau quarter, where they joined the inhabitants. One hundred Frenchmen working with Armenians in this quarter were, caught between the insurgents and another body of rebels from the town, and they died lighting bravely. Rebels in. Retreat. Suddenly an aeroplane appeared and bombed tho crowds. Tanks, armoured cars, and other aeroplanes followed. All joined in spreading death among the rebels, who fled in all directions from the terrible retribution. Tho insurgents continued to firo on tho public- from the military buildings. They barricaded the streets and set fire to /certain quarters. Finally the artillery opened fire from the citadel of the rebel quarter. Tho French made it known that the bombardment would not ceaso till the rebel fire censed. Tho bombardment lasted from Sunday night till Tuesday. Shells destroyed tho Chagour Medan quarters, while part of Hamidieh Bazaar; and other places were destroyed by lire. The Palace of Azm, one of tho finest monuments in the East, was damaged. Dead Lying in the Streets. Hundreds of victims aro lying in tho streets, and' probably at least- 2000 aro buried beneath tho demolished buildings. Apparently tho Christian* escaped. The French, sent 2000 soldiers to the Christian quarters, which the insurgents had not attacked directly. Damascus notables, during the afternoon of October 20th, presented themselves before tho , High Commissioner and undertook to fulfil all tho French, Government's requirements. Martial law was declared and anyone found in possession of arms was executed. Marauding Bands. Another version says that six organised bands aro working around Damascus. A band entered Damascus on October 18th, composed of 40 men, under Karrath, intending to kidnap General Sarrail. Tho French bombarded the city to frighten tho population, whom they accused of connivance with tho bands, and with having informed tho latter of the date of General Sarrail's arrival in Damascus. The rebels remained in Damascus till October 20th and only retired because their presence was taken as a. pretext to bombard the city. It is alleged that the rebels did nothing reprehensible. Karrath visited the Christian quarters, tranquil Using them, saying: "You are our brothers." It is also claimed that a largo number of Moslems took refuge in the Christian, quarters during the bombardment and were well received. Still another version says that the bands attacked Damascus to avenge themselves on tho Armenians in tho Medcji quarters, who allegedly enrolled in the French Army. Generally the bands remain around Damascus, perhaps strengthened by men from Damascus, whose houses were destroyed and families killed. • Rebels Seek Revenge. "Wall-informed persons, express the, opinion that the theatre of operations will lie shifted from Jebel Druse to the Damascus region, where tho bands are being well organised. It is believed they are composed of 1000 men seeking revenge. '

CAVALRY FOR SYRIA. TROOPS SENT FROM MOROCCO. BRITISH SUBJECTS IN DAMASCUS SAFE. (BT CABLE—PREgS ASSOCIATION— COI'TBIGHT.) ("THB TU113.") (Received October 28th, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON. October 27. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" states that two French Cavalry Regiments from Morocco have gone to Syria, where the situation is officially described as not satisfactory. It is admitted that there is an agitation, not only at Damascus, but in tho surrounding region. .. Apart from this, the .French Press is without official Syrian information.

"Ij'lntransigeanfc" declares: No official report so far has appeared! to contest the truth about Damascus. Is this sc.nndal going to last long? The Beirut correspondent of "Le Temps.*' under date October 26th. asserts that in view of the gravity of the situation, General Sarrail asked Paris for larger reinforcement's. He declared that conflicts are occurring between the French and Moslem Bedouin populations.

Messages from Damascus show that ih-s British Consulate was not damaged, though apparently a certain amount of damage was-dono i*> .British, property,,

■-—"■" ■" in I. II _-.....-. « No British subjects were killed. "The Times" correspondent's report from Damascus caused amazement in official circles in London, and was extensively quoted in the evening papers, especially the story of tho parade of dead brigands on the backs of camels, and the lack of warning to Europeans, except French nationals, before the bombardment. "The Star" states that the Government will probably claim compensation for damage to British property in the bazaars.