BOMBARDMENT OF DAMASCUS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 28 October 1925, Page 5

BOMBARDMENT OF DAMASCUS

HISTORIC SPOTS IN RUIN

By Eli'-* dr Telegraph.- Copyright.) (Published in The Times.)

LONDON. Oct. 2,f. The Damascus correspondent ot 'I he Times, lifting the veil from tiie net mu situation in Damascus, says that St, Paul's "street called straight" lias been almost destroyed, and lies in ruins, as the result of the French bombariiment.

"The roadway is torn up by shellfire: bazaars and shops are destroyed: and the whole area around the street is more or less demolished. Beautiful mosques and domes tire badly holed, and Mosaic windows are shatterei. Words fail to describe the sperlae 1 -;* which the sacred ancient city presents, with some of its choicest and most historic spots in ruins. "There had been much looting on the T.ight prior to the bombardment, mainly by Druse gangs, and the old city resounded far and wide with the sound of ride shots. Frendi tanks, at high speed, traversed the streets, firing tlmiiguns for demonstration purposes. Tim liont bardnient lasted for forty-eight hours, and only erased when the town notables agreed to pay a heavy line, and to surrender all rifles."

REPORT FROM ARAB CONGRESS

LONDON. Od. 20.

Tin* National Political League in London, representatives of the Palestine Arab Congress, received it wireless message from Jerusalem stating that because a Druse raiding party attacked and burned a police post at Damascus the French bombarded the city from the Citadel for fifty hours. The greater part of the city was demolished, thou sands were rendered homeless, and thousands of innocent persons perished. Tiie French armed Armenian immigrants. uho carried out fearful depredations. The British Consulate was demolished.

The French are suppressing news. Fugitives allege that 25.000 women, perished. Tbe Dailv Express states that the Foreign Office lias not received corroboration of tin* above report. It understands thill some rebels entered a portion of tin* city and were shelled out by the French. The British Consulate is unharmed.