LINES OF ADVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 23907, 10 June 1941, Page 5

LINES OF ADVANCE

FINGER MOVEMENT TOWARDS DAMASCUS FREE FRENCH ENTER TYRE (Rec. 8 a.m.) LONDON, June 9. One arm of the pincer movement toward Damascus is northward through Jcbel-Drusc, and the other is from Palestine between Tiberia and the coast through Ilasenaqura and Sidou towards Beirut. It is authoritatively stated that the Empire and Free -French forces entered Tvre. They also occupied the villages and slopes of Dera and Merjiyuu. Tho Berlin radio admitted that the Allied forces had arrived at Fssnwoida. Units of the British Mediterranean Fleet are cruising within gunning range of the Syrian coast, but there has been no bombardment. Colonel Collet is reported to be commanding the Free French forces advancing from Palestine. It is also reported from Vichy that the first lighting _occurrcd northward of Lake Tiberias. Free French loud-speakers with the troops are announcing: “We are coming to chase out the enemy and wash out the shame of Vichy’s capitulations.” A large irregular Arab cavalry force under British command is heading the British advance on Aleppo. An official German spokesman said that Germany cannot remain indifferent to the British advance. American sources state that the number of German troops in Syria, in one form and another is between 5,000 and 6,000. The Cairo correspondent of The Times ’ understands that Free French form the bulk of tho Allied force advancing in Syria. COMMUNICATIONS SEVERED, A message from Ankara states that all communications between Syria and Turkey were cut off last night. VICHY REPORT. Vichy circles say British are using strong motorised detachments supported by artillery. A communique issued at Beirut says tho Allied Air Force is very busy. “ Our forces on the southern front are defending magnificently and are resisting along the whole line. Three enemy planes were shot down and several armoured vehicles destroyed. The enemy made two air attacks on Beirut, and also bombed the aerodromes at Palmyra, llayak, Mazze, and Neras.” WELCOMED AS LIBERATORS, The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says the Syrian troops and people are welcoming the Allied forces as liberators. It is reliably stated in Ankara that tho British Embassy informed Turkey that she would observe an official “ hands-off ” policy with regard to Syria, taking only tho necessary action to defend her own frontiers. RECEIVED IN LONDON (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, June 9. It is learned in Loudon that the Note relating to tho events in Syria which yesterday was communicated by the French Ambassador in Madrid to Sir Samuel Hoare has now reached London and is under consideration. ALL QUIET IN IRAQ ABYSSINIAN ADVANCE (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon) RUGBY, Juno 9. A Cairo communique reports no change in Libya. Our troops are continuing their advance west of the Omo River in Abyssinia, and further prisoners have been captured. All is quiet in Iraq. From Bagdad it is reported that Iraq has broken off diplomatic relations with Italy. PRESIDENT DEFIED AIRCRAFT WORKERS STILL ON STRIKE DEADLOCK IN CALIFORNIAN PLANT NEW YORK, June 9. ’ In defiance of President Roosevelt’s threat to place the army in control of tho factory unless work is resumed, 12.000 strikers in tho North America Aviation Company’s plant at Inglewood, California, decided not to return to work to-day (Monday). Mr Richard Frankensteen, national director of aircraft for C. 1.0. United Automobile Workers, attempted to urge the men to return to work, but was howled down. The Mayor of Los Angeles (Mr Fletcher Bowron) said he would use 1,000 police if necessary to keep the North America Company’s gates open on Monday for those desiring to return to Mr Frankensteen declared that the strike was an attempt by the Communist Party to sabotage the defence programme. TROOPS CALLED IH (Rec. 10.55 a.m.) N. YORK, Juno 9. Mr Stimson announced that the strike in the Inglewood plant of the North American Aviation Company has been broken. A message from Washington announced that Mr Roosevelt had ordered the army to take over the plant. ■ ■ A clash occurred at the gates of the plant, when 2,000 pickets prevented 1.000 men from returning to work. Disorder broke out when the gates were opened. The police used tear gas, but tho pickets quickly reformed and threw back the bombs at the police. Colonel Bradshaw, commanding the army force in the vicinity, advised the use "of troops because the situation was beyond control, and a Los Angeles police convoy of 50 trucks loaded with troops moved into Inglewod. It was greeted with cheers from the workers who had been prevented by the pickets from entering the plant.