NAZI NERVE WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 7

NAZI NERVE WAR

LIES IN SYRIA

NO TROOPS SEEN THERE YET

LONDON, May 20,

Britons, Americans, and Palestinians are leaving Syria and Lebanon on the advice of their Consuls, states the Jerusalem correspondent of the independent French news agency. He adds that the road between Beirut, Syria, and northern Palestine is reported to be mined. German agents in Beirut are energetically attempting to unnerve the local population by spreading all kinds of lying rumours. No uniformed Germans so far have been seen in Syria.

The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says that, according to reliable reports, the main French forces on the Syrian frontier have been withdrawn. Syrian, Palestinian, and Moroccan troops, however, are continuing to patrol the frontier, and the civilian residents have been evacuated from tlie villages near the border.

A message received in Vichy from Bagdad states that the mobilisation of Rashid All's army has been completed.

It is reported from Cairo that about 50 German planes so far have traversed Syria to Irak.

According to the independent French news agency, the Germans are erecting a radio station and an aeroplane repair shop at Damascus. Fifty French officers and non-commissioned officers at Rayak have been placed under close arrest, because of their pro-British tendencies. RAIDS BY THE R.A.F. An R.A.F. communique states: "In Syria bombing attacks were made on Palmyra aerodrome, where a number of German transport aircraft on the airfields were attacked. Damascus aerodrome and Rayak were also bombed and machine-gunned. Raids were also made on Raschid aerodrome in Irak."

The Beirut correspondent of the "Daily Express" says that French antiaircraft defences on May 18 fired on British planes which were bombing the Rayak airfield, but the planes were not hit.

It is reported from Nicosia, Cyprus, that the British Intelligence Service in the Middle East> for some time was fully aware of the German plans to

of much value to her."

"The Times" contrasts the difficulties attending the transport of German troops with.Britain's ability to reinforce through the Persian Gulf, and adds: "IfHve can dispose of enough warships to make the Levant too dangerous for the enemy, enough aircraft to deny him free communications across Syria, and enough equipment to enable us to use our troops to the best possible advantage in Irak, it will not be a matter of great difficulty to keep the Germans out."—B.O.W.