Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1925 DAMASCUS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVi, 30 October 1925, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1925 DAMASCUS

THOUGH, with tho details available at present, it is difficult to assess the loss of life and property in the ancient eitv of Damascus, it is plain that the situation is in no way creditable to the French Government, which holds the mandate of the League of Nations over Syria. While it was known that the Moslem elements of Hie population were dissatisfied with French rule, and were being prompted to create trouble by the Turks, with whom the French are at. issue in reference to the northern boundary of Syria, nevertheless the country was dangerously depleted of troops, in order that the French forces which are operating against- the Riffs of Morocco might be strengthened. The result, was that the Druses of Lebanon broke into open revolt, and, being joined by various Arab tribes, besieged the French garrison in Sneida, cut up certain isolated French columns, and threw off French rule. Unfortunately service in Syria is unpopular in the French Army, and the conscriptive law does not allow troops with the colours to be ordered abroad, except as volunteers. To show bow hard pressed the authorities were to meet the military situation in Syria, it is enough to say that a small body of colonial troops was sent from Mada-

gascar to Syria. The consequence lias been that," though Stieida was,4elieved, the disaffected Druses and Arabs have not been decisively defeated, hut are still in open rebellion. j Damascus contains a population of some 150.000 people, of whom barely 20.000 are Christians. Into this Moslem citv the Druses penetrated. The French garrison occupied the citadel, which is inside and at the western side of the city. This citadel is about 300 yards long and 250 yards wide, with projectingi towers, and surrounded by a moat, j Though Damascus is connected by a good road with Beirut, which is 70 miles 1 distant, if is evident that enmmunic a tion between the two towns was liable to he interrupted, and that there was a danger of the garrison of Damascus filing surrounded and besieged, as had been the garrison of ,Stieida. In these circumstances it is easy to imagine that the garrison might use extreme men j sures to prevent it general rising of the disaffected Moslem population ; not only in self-defence, hut to prevent a general massacre of Christians, such as occurred at Damascus in July, 1860, when the fanatical Moslems of the city, unrestrained by the Turkish authorities, suddenly rose, and destroyed upwards of 20,000 Christions, and pillaged their houses. The French Government's official report on what has recently happened at Damascus must he awaited, in order that the true facts oi the case can be ascertained. But, whatever those facts may be, it> is manifest that the French Government, is bound to b'e subjected to sharp criticism, for not having taken such adequate and timely precautions as would have prevented the possibility i of the present deplorable situation in Syria. Damascus, which is not only I one, of the oldest cities in the world, but one of the most beautiful—and set in most beautiful surroundings—is also one of the* sacred cities of the East. It I awakens in both Christian and Moslem the warmest, religious sentiments. Tl contains many ancient buildings which are held specially sac-red hv Christians. Therefore that an inadequate garrison, suddenly faced with imminent danger, should, in something resembling panic fear, devastate the ancient city with artillery, is to he regretted most deeply, not only because of the rJtsrfruclTon of sacred buildings, hut because of the dreadful loss of life.