NEARING DAMASCUS

Evening Star, Issue 23908, 11 June 1941, Page 7

NEARING DAMASCUS

British Only Ten Miles Away NAZIS’ TURN TO WITHDRAW "Leaving It To The French” Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Eec. noon.) ' LONDON, June 10. It is authoritatively stated in Cairo that the British troops arc under 10 miles from Damascus. Vichy officially admits that the British arc 18 miles from the capital. It is stated officially in Beirut that French planes from North Africa have arrived ih Syria. It is learned in Ankara that members of the German air force and army specialists, numbering 1,700 scattered throughout Syria, have been ordered to retire from the country, because Berlin is convinced that the British invasion is not merely a political gesture or military bluff, and claims that a German evacuation can be completed without difficulty, although considerable equipment might be lost if the British advanced rapidly. German diplomatic circles in Ankara told the Associated Press correspondent that no German soldiers will be sacrificed in Syria. They say; “We are leaving it to the French.” A British General Headquarters Cairo communique states; ‘‘.ln Arabia the penetration of the Allied forces is proceeding satisfactorily. The genera! impression is that Arab reaction to the arrival of our forces is favourable” The Allied forces are deliberately advancing slowly in order to avoid clashes and carry out the occupation , with a minimum of bloodshed. French feeling in Syria at the moment is thought to be evenly divided between General de Gaulle and Vichy. : Support by both the B.A.F. and the E.A.A.F. is continuous, our air units protecting the naval forces operating off the coast sb well as the land troops.

VICHY'S ADMISSION SITUATION PARTICULARLY GRAVE LONDON, June 9. Vichy newspapers published statement that “ the British forces _ are superior to a marked degree, especially in armoured equipment, and the diffi-. o| a weak army defending-the Levant territories must be pointed out. Supplying this array not only with arms and ammunition, but with food and fuel, is almost impossible.” Admiral Darlan’s secretary admitted that the Syrian situation was particularly grave. NOT ASKED TO SURRENDER INVITED TO JOIN ALLIES LONDON, June ?. British and Fred French forces waited all Saturday night in bright moonlight for the order to invade Syria, says the Jerusalem correspondent of ‘ The Times.’ At the first coming of light they crept out from their positions among the rocks and made for the frontier. Reconnaissance patrols stole on ahead while anti-tank guns, tanks, and armoured cars cruised ahead of the infantry along the new first-class roads leading toward the coast and inland. General Catrons announced over the Palestine radio that “ our men went in singing the Marseillaise.” The correspondent added that the coastal landing ground just across the border was one of the first points the Australians occupied, and between 300 and 400 prisoners were quickly taken, some willingly and others after a show of resistance. The opposing troops are mostly Senegalese or other French native battalions officered by whites. Throughout the advance the French tmcl Syrians are being given a chance to lay down their arms peacefully. They are not being asked to surrender, but to join the Allies, who are going into action, only where resistance is shown. The correspondent of the ‘ Daily Express’ with the Australians says that an Australian officer, daring a hail of machine-gun bullets and mortar fire, crept up to one French fort covering Merjiyun and called on the commander to come out and talk it over. The commander parleyed for two hours, after which he surrendered. STILL NEUTRAL TURKEY'S FOREIGN POLICY ISTANBUL, June 10. Tt has been announced that Turkey will maintain neutrality in the Syrian campaign unless directly attacked. ALLIES' EQUIPMENT MOSTLY FROM AMERICA LONDON. June 9. It was announced in London that some of the most modern equipment now reaching the Middle East from America was probably being used in the Syrian campaign. Convoy after convoy of mechanised equipment is rolling across the Sinaj Desert through Palestine to the frontier. Americanbuilt aircraft are also active over Syria.

LITTLE SYMPATHY VICHY AMBASSADOR'S PROTEST ■ LONDON, June 9. According to a message from Washington, the Vichy Ambassador, M. Henry Haye, expressed to Mr Cordell Hull “ the indignation of the French people at the unjustified and unprovoked attack by the British on Syria.” Mr Hull is reported to -have told the Ambassador that he was surprised at the failure of France to halt German infiltration in Syria, whereas she immediately took up arms against the British and the Free French. ARAB REACTION REPORTED TO BE FAVOURABLE LONDON, June 9. The following communique was issued by General Headquarters, Cairo : —“ The penetration of Syria is proceeding satisfactorily. The general impression is that the Arab reaction is favourable.” • AUSTRALIANS TAKE TYRE STORY OF FIRST ADVANCE LONDON, June 10. A delayed message from the special correspondent of the Associated Press with the Allies describes how, early on June 8, Australian infantry, accompanied by Bren gun carriers and 25pounders, set off from the shores of the Sea of Galilee for the frontier, where they surprised a French sergeant and seven Lebanese guards, who surrendered without a word. The Australians thereafter ran into a volley of shots from a concealed fort, to which they replied with artillery, silencing the" fort’s guns. After storming the stronger fortress of Khaim, they sent out flanking parties, causing the garrison’s withdrawal and enabling British control of Merjiyun, the first import--1 ant town across the frontier in this sector. The Australian official war correspondent, in a message from Jerusalem dated June 8, says the Australians crossed to French soil at Chaab without a conflict, but from this point on they met with resistance, mostly from fortified posts around Merjiyun, where it is estimated that at least four French battalions offered fight. The Allied troops were ordered not to open fire nor show their arms unless and until they were attacked. Their progress has since been resisted by force —stubbornly, if not formidably. Children were removed from one village in the fighting area to a safer district in a motor bus. They sang songs and waved to the Australians as they departed. Besides the force which is driving towards the centre of Syria, another Australian force is moving up the coastal road, and an Indian force is converging from the oast. The Australians in the central drive are supported by English cavalry—on horses. This use of British horses for the first time in the war is justified by the nature of the country in which they are at present operating. The cavalry officers are fine men, and have fine horses. The Australians started operations at 2 a.m. on June 9, when they cut the barbed wire frontier protection on the Raseu Nakura-Beirut coastal road, after which they soon occupied Rasen Nakura, but they were delayed by the blowing up of a road near Iskanderunch. Sappers speedily repaired the road, and the Australians entered Tyre at nightfall, completing a good day’s work bv occupying beach points where the Germans could make landings of troops. It is not expected that the Australians will meet much resistance until they reach the line of defence around Saida, which, with pillboxes and concrete blockhouses, forms the outer defence of Beirut.