SYRIA GUARDIANS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 25 November 1941, Page 9

SYRIA GUARDIANS

POWERFUL ARMY MORE BRITISH UNITS FREE FRENCH ALLIES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 24, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 23. A powerful well-equipped British Imperial and Free French Army is ready to bar the way if the Germans attempt to smash across Turkey and attack Syria in order to divert Britain’s attention from North Africa, says the Beirut correspondent of the British United Press. During the five months Britain has been preparing for the Libya offensive strong reinforcements have been pouring into Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. The correspondent said he had just returned from a tour of Syria and Palestine. He saw arriving steady •streams of tanks of all sizes, Bren-gun carriers, anti-aircraft guns, armoured cars, guns and munitions. He talked with veteran Australians from General Wavell’s campaign in Libya who had undergone further intensive training. They were already on the most friendly terms with the Turkish frontier posts in the north. Veteran pilots who fought in the battle of, Britain were ready, standing by with Spitfires and Hurricanes. South African and New Zealand had sent tens of thousands of men to the Middle East in the last few months. General Wavell also had another good-sized and well-equipped army in Iraq, ready for any emergency, while the British army in Cyprus had also been considerably reinforced and would not be caught unawares if the Germans attacked the island.