TENSION IN DAMASCUS

Evening Star, Issue 25495, 28 May 1945, Page 5

TENSION IN DAMASCUS

PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS BEING SANDSAGGED LONDON, May 27. Damascus is prepared for battle. The Associated Press correspondent in the city reports that both the French arid the Syrians are hastily protecting the windows and doorways of all the principal administrative buildings with sandbags. Uniformed Syrians without arms are parading the streets, keeping order and preventing isolated in-, cidents from growing into major clashes with French and Senegalese troops. Two thousand Arabs from nearby villages this morning trudged into Damascus to hear a patriotic speech by the Minister for National Economy. The mob dispersed when a man who was accused of being a French agent drew a revolver and was himself shot through the neck. Gendarmes prevented the crowd from tearing him to pieces and took him to hospital. The Svrian Parliament yesterday converted what began as an ordinary session into a secrefc session, and the deputies, in fiery speeches, demanded a last ditch fight against the French. There will certainly be much trouble if the French attempt to take over the city.