FIERCE FIGHTING REPORTED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 228, 23 June 1941, Page 7

FIERCE FIGHTING REPORTED

Advance Of Australians BEIRUT EVACUATION COMMENCES (Received June 22, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 22. The Jerusalem spokesman said that in south Syria numerically superior Vichy forces attacked the Free French in the neighbourhood of Jebel Elkleb, but the Allies still hold the railway and the highway from Transjordan. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting is going on between Australians and Vichy troops in'the houses and streets of Merjiyum. Empire'troops advancing on Beirut are meeting considerable machinegun fire. Moscow radio reports from Vichy that 80,000 people already have been evacuated from Beirut, many on foot because of lack of transport. The Attack On Damascus. An earlier message stated that the attack on Damascus was taking place in terrible heat. Meanwhile, the British Fleet is pounding the Vichy positions between Sidon and Damour, and violent fighting is reported in the Kuneitra and Dera sectors. The necessity for relieving Merjiyun has held up the Australian advance along the coast. A correspondent of the British United Press with the British on the Lebanese coast says that three large fast French destroyers are playing eat and mouse with substantial British naval forces. Destroyers apparently have been ordered to locate the Australian field artillery by drawing their fire. The destroyers darted inshore, firing quick salvos, but brisk Australian machine-gun fire was the only answer. It was sufficient, however, to persuade the destroyers to put up a smoke screen and hastily retire to Beirut. Navy’s Hammer Blows. The British Navy continues to hammer the Vichyites, regardless of attacks from German dive-bombers. The warships so far have suffered negligible damage, despite many “near misses” from 10001 b. bombs. Prisoners taken at Sidon included members of the Spanish International Brigade now with the French. Beirut claims that British artillery is shelling the Moslem quarter of Damascus. The authorities protested to the Iraqi and Saudi-Arabian consuls, drawing their attention to the fact that Damascus is the “second most important city in the Islam world.” It is recalled in London that the French themselves shelled Damascus in 1925, destroying the famous Moslem Palace.

A Cairo communique states that fighting continues all along the front in Syria. In the coastal sector further progress has been made. South of Damascus counter-attacks by Vichy troops have been repulsed and the Allied forces are again making headway.

In the central area there has been little change in the situation, although Vichy resistance is gradually being worn down. A war correspondent in Syria writes that the Indian Brigade which is advancing on Damascus is making splendid progress, despite very strong resistance from Algerian troops and Moroccan sharp-shooters who are well supported by heavy artillery. By 11 o’clock on Friday morning they had reached the village of Mezze, on rhe outskirts of . the city, and were maintaining their advance while reinforcements, including Australians, were coming up the main road, which is now entirely free of Vichy forces.

A Free French attack at dawn ou the Damascus road failed to lead io any progress. Attempts by Vichy forces to advance against the Allies" strongly-held positions on both sides of the road were, however, checked. The battle was short, but the Free French losses were heavy.