AUSTRALIANS IN VANGUARD

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23352, 11 June 1941, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS IN VANGUARD

Start of Advance Into Syria RESISTANCE FROM FORTS (Received June 10, 9.20 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON. June 10. The British and Free French waited all Saturday night in bright moonlight for the order to invade Syria, says the Jerusalem correspondent of “The Times.” At the first coming of light they crept out from their positions among the rocks and made for the frontier. Reconnaissance patrols stole on ahead,, while anti-tank guns, tanks and armoured cars cruised ahead of the infantry along the new first-class roads leading toward the coast and inland. General Catroux, Commander-in-Chief of the Free French forces engaged, announced over the Palestine radio: “Our men went in singing the Marseillaise.”. The correspondent adds that a coastal landing ground just across the border was one of the first points the Australians occupied, 1 and between 300 and 400 prisoners were quickly taken, some willingly and others after a show of resistance. The opposing troops were mostly Senegalese or other French native battalions officered by whites. Throughout the advance, the French and Syrians are being given a, chance to lay down arms peacefully and are not being asked to surrender but to join the Allies, who are going into action only where resistance is shown. A correspondent of the British United Press states that Australians formed the spearhead of the advance from Palestine. They were very cheerful as they moved up to the frontier by motor convoy from camouflaged camps. A delayed message from a special correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain with the Allied troops describes how. early on Sunday, Australian infs >try, accompanied by Bren gun carriers and 25-pounders, set off from the shores of the Sea of Galilee for the frontier, where they surprised a French sergeant and seven Lebanese guards, who surrendered without a word. . , , The Australians then ran into a volley of shots from a concealed fort, to which they replied with artillery, silencing the fort’s guns. Merjiyun Taken

After storming the stronger fortress of Khaim, they, sent out flanking parties and caused the garrisons to withdraw, thus enabling the British to control Merjiyun. the first important town across the frontier in this sector. The Australian official war correspondent, in a message dated June 8, says the Australians crossed to French soil at Chaab without conflict, but from this point on they met with resistance, mostly from fortified P9sts round Merliyun, where it is estimated that at least four French battalions offered fight. , The Allied troops were ordered not to open fire nor shdw their arms unless and until they were attacked. Their progress has since been resisted by force—stubbornly if not formidably. Children were removed from one village in the fighting area to a safer district by motor-bus. They sang songs and waved to the Australians as they departed. . , . . Besides the force which is driving towards the centre of Syria, another Australian force is moving up the coastal road, and an Indian force is converging from the east. Die Australians in the central drive are supported by English cavalry—cm horses. This use of British horses for the first time in the war is justified by the nature of the country in which they are at present operating. The cavalry officers are fine men and have fine horses. „ A correspondent of the Daily Express” • with the Australians says that an Australian officer, daring a hail of machine-gun bullets and mortar fire, crept up to one French fort covering Merjiyun and called on the commander to come out and talk it over. The commander parleyed for two hours, after which he surrendered. VICHY PROTESTS BRITISH ACTION IN SYRIA LONDON, June 9. A diplomatic protest concerning the British action in Syria; which was lodged by the French Ambassador to Spain with the British Ambassador to Spain (Sir Samuel Hoare), has now reached London and is under consideration. The Vichy Ambassador to Washington (M. Henry-Haye) called on the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) to protest against what he described as an “unprovoked attack.” He said that he hoped that the struggle would be localised, but he added: “When you start firing guns, something may happen.” He reiterated that there were no grounds for a break, between the United States and Vichy. He denied reports that there had been a difference between General Weygand and Admiral Darlan. , Mr Hull is reported to have told M. Henry-Haye that he was surprised at the failure of France to halt German infiltration in Syria, whereas she immediately took up arrns against the British and Free French. According to a Reuter message, M. Henry-Haye was told by Mr Hull that the United States could find nothing to alter its critical view of French-German collaboration. M, Henry-Haye denied that the Germans had used Syria as a base to help the Iraqi rebels. BELLIGERENTS’ OIL. SUPPLIES «LUFTWAFFE FEELING THE PINCH ” WASHINGTON, June 9. A correspondent of the United Press quotes one of the United Navy s highest officers as saying that he believed that the outcome of the war would be determined by oil supplies. ; He said that recent developments Indicated that, the Luftwaffe was feeling the pinch of dwindling oil supplies. The Nazi machine m expected to make a-supreme effort to grab the rich oilfields of Iran and Iraq. Tbe naval officer said that he believed that the United States Atlantic patrol, plus .the transfer of more tankers to -> Britain, would gain fo/Britaih ah overwhelming; share of the world’s oil, v CASUALTIES AMONG ■'/'ltalians (Received June 10, 7 pan.) , ROME, June 9. Since Jdrie last year until May 31. the Army had lost 17,622 killed, 45,779 •wounded, land. 132,523 missing, . the Navy 1075). killed, 1301 wounded, and 6146 missing, and. the Air Force ,514 killed, 825 wounded and 1613 missing.