A GRAVE POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 104, 29 October 1925, Page 7

A GRAVE POSITION

DAMAGE BY SHELLS AND BOMBS

DETAILS FROM WITNESSES

COUNTRY CHAOTIC UNDER SARRAIL.

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received 29th October, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 28th October. The "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent s.-iys that confirmation of the gravity of the situation in Damascus has reached London. Terrible damage was wrought by_the French garrison artillery and air bombers, as well as by the rioters and looters. The Consular body in Damascus is claiming damages against France. The correspondent adds : "It must be admitted that, since the arrival of General Sarrail, the whole cuntry has become chaotic."

(Received 29th October, 9 a.m.) (.rUBLISUED IN THE TIMES.)

LONDON, 28th October. The^ Damascus corespondent of "The Times'' says that while the material havoc is serious enough, the fantastic accounts of thousands killed and of the population deserting the city are merely propaganda, or the feverish imaginings of the refugees. . The correspondent's account, based on an actual inspection, showed that only two foreigners were killed and one British resident was wounded. The casualties among the native population are not likely to bo much greater in proportion. The outbreak was .really the outcome of the situation in the Jebel Druse, but the Druses who were engaged in the pillaging, shooting, and incendiarism in Damascus, seem to have acted not from political motives, but from a. desire to plunder.

It was a, great mistake to display the corpses of the brigands. Camels paraded the streets bearing the dangling bodies, a revolting spectacle which, instead of overawing tho brigands, infuriated the entire populace. One consequence was that the French found the bodies of twelve of their Circassian Irregulars deposited outside the" city gate three mornings later. Tho lower elements in the population readily joined the forces of the brigands in attacking the French troops and overpowering the police. A SERIOUS OMISSION "Le Journal" asks whether it is true, as tho English newspapers declare, that General Sarrail, before the bombardment, omitted to follow the elementary rule of the Law of Nations by which the Consular _ body is informed, and due warning is given for the evacuation of women and children. It says it is stated that tho omission le\l to a protest by the Consular body, transmitted by its doyen, tho German Consul, whose recall General Sarrail then demanded.