THE WAR IN SYRIA

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 47, 19 November 1925, Page 9

THE WAR IN SYRIA

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS OPENED BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND JEBEL, DRUSE

Cairo, November 17. The Syrian newspaper “Alifboa” states that peace negotiations have been opened between' the French authorities and Jebel Druse, Sultan of El Arish.—Reuter.

PILLAGE AND MASSACRE DANGERS OF TRAVELLING Paris, November 17. The special correspondent of the "Petit Parisien” at Damascus says that the situation in Syria is still serious. Damascus can only be reached by small convovs, preceded by an armed detachment and followed by a tank. Druses or bandits wait the, opportunity to pillage and massacre. Murders are being committee on almost all the roads in the Lebanon, but North Syria is calm. Energetic action is , essential. The “Petit Journal” publishes photographs of Syrian rebel airmen accompanied by foreign instructors. Reuter.

ALARMING SITUATION REBELS 'AIM TO SEIZE • BEIRUT (Rec. November 18,-11.10 p.m.) London, November 17. The “Daily Mail’s” Damascus correspondent reports an alarming situation. Strong rebel forces are endeavouring to unite to seize Beirut and cut the BeirutDamascus railway. The French threaten to bombard Beirut in the event of the rebels entering. Large forces are reported to be converging on Damascus, which is momentarily calm. The French ambushed rebels at Douma, ten miles to the north-east, killing three' hundred. Rebels entered Koukaba, on the wes ' tern slopes of Mount Hermon, and massacred thirty’ villagers, including two priests. The French have commandeered all the motor-cars in Beirut, where they are landing seven thousand first-class troops. —Sydney “Sun” Cable.

SARRAIL IN PARIS NOT PESSIMISTIC AS TO SITUATION Paris, November 16. General Sarrail has arrived, and was met at the station by Senatof de Jouvenel (the new High Commissioner of Syria). Subsequently he was received by M. Painleve. General Sarrail, in an interview, declared that he was not pessimistic in regard to the situation in Syria. There could only be one Moslem policy for France in Africa and Syria.—Reuter.