FRANCE UP AGAINST IT

Grey River Argus, 10 August 1925, Page 5

FRANCE UP AGAINST IT

DR USES INFLICT SOO CASUALTIES FRENCH REVERSES IN SYRIA. JERUSALEM, August 7. The French casualties in the recent engagement with tho Druses were two hundred killed, and six hundred woundml. Civilian traffic between Damascus and Semakh has been suspended. LONDON, August 7. It is reported from that France is faced with a further Imperial complication by the rebellion of the Jebel-Druses in South Damascus, adjoining British Tra-is-Jordan la. It is rumoured that the rebels captured Sueida, the French seat of Government. “Tho Times’s’’ Faris correspondent says that there is no confirmation of this report, but it has been unofficially stated the French garrison has been isolated for some days. Official circles are disposed to minimise the rebelion, considering the whole trouble has arisen through the absence of an influential political officer now on furlough. Franco does ®o(.believe the revolt amounts to an Islamic rising, but the Government is becoming anxious and Ims instructed General Sarrail to report fully. THE DRUSES CAPTURE GUNS. (Received August 8 at 5.5 p.m.) JERUSALEM August 7. It is reported from Amman that on the occasion of the capture of Sueida, tho Druses captured several tanks ami machine guns and that they brought down several aeroplanes. The French have evacuated southern II uu run. TARIS. Aug. 7. “Le Matin’’ understands that the French has received confirmation of the capture of Sueida. SARRAIL BLAMED. 1 FOR SYRIAN SET BACK, PARIS, August 8. Tho newspapers of France are perturbed over the French position in SyThe “Eehp de Paris’’ demands the recall of General Sarrail. It says:— “The Druses number GO,OOO men, and they arc being suported by Arabs, while tho French are short of troops, after having had to sen reuifi.reeine.nts to Morocco. A TYRANNICAL GOVERNOR. The “Echo de Paris ’’■ adds that Captain Carbillet, the Governor of JebelDruses, has exasperated the population by his vexatious, arbitratary methods. “Le Journal’’ asserts that foreign influences are responsible for the agitation in Syria, in which n. Trans-Jor-danian Emir, Rikali Pasha, has played an important part. “ Le Journal''’ says: “Wo shall pro bably be forced to give the Emir Abdulla a lesson as severe as that administered to his predecessor, Feisul. ’’

Le Petit Journal” says: “The offi cor whose guns and tanks were captured has committed suicide. A telegram from Beirut says that a French punitive column has been advancing on the Jebel-Druses, but was obliged to withdraw, owing to a sudden attack by the Druses upon its transport .