NEXT NAZI DRIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20570, 2 June 1941, Page 6

NEXT NAZI DRIVE

PLANS ADVANCED SYRIA AND CYPRUS FRENCH UNDER THUMB (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. June 2, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON,'June 1. The German plans to sweep from Greece and Crete to the next objectives, Syria and Cyprus, are already well advanced, according to reports from the Middle East, soys the Istanbul correspondent of the Daily Mail. All power in Syria has now passed from the French to Germans. One thousand Frenchmen arc working six four-hour shifts daily under German overseers constructing five new aerodromes for the Germans. The German air force already in Syria consists of 180 bombers. The Jerusalem correspondent of the Daily Telegraph points out that the German drive on Syria and Cyprus will not require initially much imported material except what can easily be flown in. General Weygand’s original Middle East Army was well equipped and all the stores an.d arms are still serviceable. The Germans therefore only require sufficient effectives to handle these guns and transports, and they have been training Frenchmen for this task.

There is a report from Damascus that British planes have been active over Syria since May 28, raiding airports and railway stations at Tripoli, Deirezzor. Aleppo and Rayak.