A NEW VERSION

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 November 1925, Page 5

A NEW VERSION

DAMASCUS BOMBARDMENT.

BRITISH CONSUL BLAMED FOR SUBSEQUENT PANIC. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT. Received Nov. 12, 10.30 a-.m. PARIS, Nov. 11A member of General Sarrail’s staff ha s just arrived and given the Petit Parisien a new" account of the Damascus bombardment, sensationally blaming Mr W. A. Smart, the British .representative, for the subsequent panic. General Sarrail was shown the story, and agreed as to its accuracy. . It says that the French, during the afternoon of the 18th October, attacked twenty-two rebels, who were burning Armenian houses. Tlhe rebels, after cutting the throats and mutilating old women and men, advanced to the headquarters of General Sarrail, who ordered eight shells to be fired into the quarters of the revolt. Next morning the bandits, reinforced, attacked and pillaged Azem Palace. The French resumed the bombardment and destroyed three hundred mud houses. There were 137 casualties, of which thirteen were French soldiers who were killed and forty-seven who were wounded. Fifty Armenians had their throats cut. v The following day the rebels handed over 3000 rifles, and hostilities ceased. The resultant panic was due to Mr Smart’s action in placarding the town with a proclamation .informing Britishers that they should leave Damascus, and offering'no guarantee of'refuge. Mr Smart subsequently issued a second placard, stating that the bombardment was recommencing and inviting Britishers to attend the consulate, with a view to beino sent to a safety zone. This undoubtedly created a panic, as there was no reason to fear a resumption of the bombardment, General Sarrail haying promised to warn Mr Smart in event of deciding to recommence the shelling.—Sydney Sun Cable.