British Force Cuts Right Acress Syria

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 143, 18 June 1941, Page 5

British Force Cuts Right Acress Syria

VICHY SOURCES REPORT NAVAL BATTLE LONDON, June 16. A report from Ankara says that a British column from Iraq has reached the Syrian coast just south of Alexandretta in the far north. Reports from Beirut declare that French warships and naval planes faro battle throughout yesterday to British warships, including aircraftcarriers, in a series of actions off Sidon. French warships again engaged two British ernisers and four destroyers at dawn to-day off Beirut, these reports add. In the South. Australian and British forces from Sidon and Jezzin are ■within sight of Beirut, chief port of Syria, and Rayak, some miles farther •ast. where there is an important air base. They are meeting trouble from French tanks and artillery, but the Navy is replying effectively. Its shelling completely halted one column, which then retreated in disorder. The forces from Jezzin have made contact with the coastal troops, and action is proceeding in a series of cavalry and other fast-moving operations. The eastern wing of the coastal drive has reached the heights above Hasbeiya, which is reported to have evacuated. The shelling of Merj Iyun from Hasbeiya has ceased, and this seems to confirm the Vichy forces’ withdrawal northwards. The Vichy authorities claim that their troops have attacked in the regions of Merj Iyun and El Kuneitra, but the Allies from El Kuneitra have crossed the Nahrawaj and are moving on towards Sasa. It Is authoritatively stated In Jerusalem that very powerful Allied forces are now outside Damascus, the capital, but ewing to the terrain to the south and east, it may be necessary to encircle the tity and enter from the north. r Two Indian battalions captured Kiswe and an important hill beyond, called Tel Kiswe, despite its defence by five battalions of Vichy troops with artillery. One Indian battalion cleared the village after hand-to-hand fighting, while the other went on and took the hill. Vicny supporters say that the defenders of Damascus are carrying out an offensive in three directions. They admit the fall of Kiswe, but claim that a counter-attack regained some of the ground in that area. The opposition to the Allied advance In Syria appears to have stiffened in the last few days, and heavy fighting is said to be taking place. The bombardment of the Damascus road by Vichy planes, which has gone on continuously, has slackened to-day. R.A.F. bombers carried out raids on the aerodrome at Aleppo and dropped bombs among dispersed aircraft and on the runways, starting a number of fires. Hostile fighters which attempted to intercept were attacked and damaged. Fighters operating over our troops in the Kiswe area, South of Damascus, drove off a formation of Vichy fighters and destroyed two of them. Fighter aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force which were machine-gunning armoured vehicles In the same area shot down two hostile bombers. Protective patrols were carried out by R.A.F. fighters over our naval units off the Syrian coast. Two formations of hostile aircraft were intercepted, »nd a number were severely damaged. The German, news agency says that bombers on Sunday attacked a strong British naval squadron off the Syrian coast, destroying a light cruiser and damaging a heavy cruiser. .