LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1941, Page 7

LATE MESSAGES

RECEPTION OF OFFICIALS. LONDON, July 16. Generals Wilson and Catreux, this morning, led Allied detachments into Beirut. The Generals received the Lebanese Government, church, civic and commercial leaders, and in the evening, returned the visit of the Lebanese Prime Minister. General Dentz left Beirut early yesterday, companied by a number of the more enthusiastic Vichy supporters among the higher officials. Despite the cordiality' of the welcome accorded to the Allied forces, General Wilson is taking no risks. Curfew was imposed. A proclamation was posted throughout ' the city, warning the populace that any act jeopardising the Imperial forces was liable ,to punishment by death. , . The R.A.F. made a . five hpuis goodwill flight over Beirut Tripoli, Lattakia and Aleppo. Everywhere tne people rushed into the, streets, wav-

ing and cheering. During the 34 days’ campaign, the R.A.F. destroved nearly a hundred hostile ’aircraft and damaged many others. “The Times’s” Beirut correspondent savs the impression gained locally is that General Dentz was highly pleased with obtaining such favourable armistice terms. Fair-minded Vichyites were impressed with A'llied generosity. Free French sympathisers believe the British were more venerous than was prudent. AntiBritishers claim that the British were obliged to make peace before Hitler finished Russia.