NOW A WAR BEGAN

Evening Star, Issue 19381, 15 October 1926, Page 9

NOW A WAR BEGAN

TROUBLE OVER A CAT FRAME AND THE DRUSES [Pep. United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, October 14. How an ordinary household cat caused a war which has been carried on for over a year was related to a ‘ Star ’ reporter to-day. The story has not previously been published, as the French authorities who control the area concerned, exercise a strict censorship on news messages. The narrator of the story was Air A. L. Freeman, who during the last twelve mouths has made a leisurely tour of the Sudan, Egypt, 'Palestine, Syria, and Transjordania. Speaking of tho trouble in Syria between the iuxo.ch and the Druses, Mr Freeman said: “The whole trouble was caused oy a cat. it seems ridiculous,” ho continued, “ but it is perfectly true. I have absolutely no doubt about it. Many of tho Druses i spoko to told me about it, and even Prince Sutfalla, the .Egyptian multi-millionaire (who is financing the Druses, although tho French can’t catch nun at it), assured me that it was true. The French Governor of Damascus accused the Druse people of stealing a cat to which he was greatly attached. They denied the charge, but the Governor took six sheiks as hostages. He told them that if the cat was not returned within twenty-four hours iio would cut olf their beards. This is a serious offence, and a great insult. Tho Druses didn’t have tho cat, and so they were disbearded. “The Druses did not commence an attack immediately, but laid a complaint to Genera! Sarrail (Governor of the territoiy), and asked to have the offending Frenchman removed. General Sarrrail replied in no uncertain terms that he would rather sacrifice France than sacrifice that man. It I was then,” added Mr Freeman, “ that ! they resorted to violent measures. The result was that General Sarrail was removed, and M. Jouvcnal was placed as ' Governor. “At Baalbek, a French outpost, halfway between Beirut and Damascus, the French are attacked nearly even night. The Druses come down from the mountains, make a swift attack, and go hack to the mountains. At the | Hotel Palmero, where I stayed, the I bullets whacked against the building 1 all night long. Two or three days before 1 got there a big raid took place, and twenty or thirty of the French

garrison were killed. The Druses have plenty of ammunition and plenty of artillery, as they have captured French weapons. The French are using nearly all colonial troops, and they are held in very low esteem “ The Druse people do not want the French mandate.” added the speaker. “They desire British protection. The native Syrians are also very dissatisfied with the French way of doing things.”