LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1941, Page 7

LATE MESSAGES

i LONDON, July 17. The casualties to the Vichy forces in Syria totalled between 4000 aha 5000, including 1000,killed, according to Free French sources. A total oi 45,000 Vichy troops were engaged in the war, including 10,000 Syrians ana Lebanese and 5000 men of the Foreign Legion. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Beirut 1 correspondent says: Before, his departure, General Dentz told a gathering of Frenchmen that they had been dealing with people who displayed much understanding, and behaved like fighting veterans. The armistice' terms were more favourable than he expected they would be. and would have been even more so, but lor some de Gaulle supporters. Thousands Of refugees, who were driven to Turkey by the Vichy antiSemitic policy and lack of commodities, particularly food, due to the effective British blockade, are preparing to return to Syria. . Tne disarmament, of 11 Frefich ships lying at Alexandretta has been completed under Turki'sh supervision. The crews have been interned. AUCKLAND, July 18. The man who perpetrated hoaxes on Auckland Hospital, St. John Ambulance, and the Fire Brigade early on Sunday morning, July 6, by telephoning that a serious tailway smash had occurred in the railway yards, Edward Albert McGuire, 40, Was sentenced in the Police Court to 18 months’ imprisI onment. The police said that. McGuire was a cook and porter. He was deported trom Australia and returned to New Zealand in May last, after an absence of some years. He had a •lengthy list of previous convictions. He telephoned the hospital before 6 a.m., stating two trains had collided ahd five persons viere dead aild many injured. Several doctors Wefe aroused and they proceeded to the railway station. The same morning, he telephoned the St. John A.mbulahce, and four ambulahces were dispatched. A similar message Was sent to the Fire Brigade. Four engines were dispatched He was later located as the result of inquiries bv. Detective Halpin. The Magistrate "(Mr. Hunt) passed sentence of 12 months’ on one charge and six months’on-the other. On the other accounts, he was convicted add discharged.