REVOLT. OF THE DRUSES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 January 1926, Page 16

REVOLT. OF THE DRUSES.

TROUBLE AT DAMASCUS,

THE CAUSES EXPLAINED

All the names so familiar to- New Zealanders during the Palestine campaign Amman, Deraa, Homs, Hama and Damascus, are in the news again. Iho Druses, • whoso stronghold is to the south of Damascus, have withdrawn their parole and taken up arms again after having submitted to the French a. few week® ago. The Druses, who number 60,000, rebelled against the French as the mandatory authorities in Syria. Difficulties have beset the French administration over since General Wevgand was succeeded by the now High 'Commissioner, General Sarrail (who has since been recalled). His silence as to what has taken plaee has aroused strong criticism, especially in view of the ravaging of Hama and) Damascus by rioters, avlio were suppressed by the use of artillery and aircraft. SAVAGE MURDERS.

According to The Times, it is clear that the campaign in the Druse country Avas one of the principal causes of the trouble at Damascus. The initial reverses of the French in August caused the turbulent native elements to lift their heads. One body of bandits was destroyed by the French', Avho brought their corpses to Damascus. There; they placed them on camels and paraded them through the streets. This, instead of intimidating, infuriated the Damascenes, as Avell it might have done. Savage murders of French soldiers and! their Circassian auxiliaries Avere tho' immediate outcome. On, October IS rioting began in Damascus, but, although it Avas a serious outbreak of lawlessness, it does not seem, to have been the incipient revolution which the French authorities apparently thought iti was.

Whether or not they lost tlieir heads remains to be seen; but, after a midnight tank attack upon the bazaars and a bombardment with uncharged shell of the quarters, occupied by the rioters, tho French AvitlidreAV their troops and non-combatants into their cantonments to the north of the city, and bombarded, Damascus in earnest But for the gallant efforts of the Arab notables of the city, the residents of the European colonies other "than French. avlio Avere left -;o shift for themselves, Avould. probably have lost their IWes. A calmer atmosphere uoav reigns, but it will be long before normal conditions can return, ENORMOUS DAMAGE.

Havoc was* wrought in every direction. Shop after shop in the bazaars was destroyed l by shells, machine guns or fire; while the corrupated roof of the Street called - Straight (mentioned in the New Testament) was blown off in the centre for a hundred yards. The Great Mosque escaped, but the dome of tli e beautiful iSenaniyeh Mosque was badly damaged by shell fire. An irreparable loss is the* Palace of Azm, which housed an almost; priceless museum of Mussulman art and archaeology. Another palace, which General Sarrail had selected as headquarters, was ruined by the.shells employed, to drive out the brigands who had seized it. Many handsome houses have been destroyed, and the damage is estimated at between one and two million gold Turkish pounds. Tli at the European communities came off lightly was not due to the good management of the French authorities. but rather to- the good offices of the Moslems, who restored order in the Christian quarter after the withdrawal of the French troops, and defended; it against the attacks of looters. ROTTGITSHOD HIDING. At Beirut, as well as* at Damascus, there is much resentment that an open town, including areas* officially known as European, should) have been bombarded, and all the troops withdrawn from the Christian quarter without the slightest warning. More especially is rhi& the l 'case since the French authorities reiterated the assurance that Europeans would be safeguarded. The threatened resumption of the bombardment by tho French authorities was averted'by the President of Syria and the Mayor of the city undertaking to pay a hundred! thousand pounds: Turkish in, gold and deliver 3000 rifles. . It will take long for the bitter feeling which has been aroused to die down. It is asserted by the correspondent of The Times though tlie French ean maintain peace in Damascus by dint of force, the key to the whole situation is* the ,1 ebel Druse. As long as that locality remain* in its present condition troubles in various parts ot the country will continue* to increase. Tie contends that the Druse, difficulty could even now be overcome without repressive measures. The presilt situation Is due to the failure of the French to appreciate the psychological aspect of affairs, and tlieir endeavour to ride roughshod over a proud and virile race.