DAMASCUS ISOLATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19169, 7 November 1925, Page 11

DAMASCUS ISOLATED.

PEOPLE FLEE FROM CITY. BELLICOSE SYRIAN REBELS. SERIOUS FIGHTING REPORTED. FRENCH DEBATE POSTPONED. By Telegraph—Pre33 Association —Copyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.—Router. LONDON, Nov. 5. The Jewish telegraph agency in London lias received reports from Jerusalem stating that the rebels have formed provisional governments in several Syrian districts. Damascus is isolated from the north and south, and all traffic and business has been stopped. The inhabitants are fleeing from the city. Refugees from Beirut report that serious fighting occurred on '1 uesday along the Damascus railway. French artillery and troops drove off the rebels. One party of the rebels blew up a bridge over a cutting on the railway line to Haifa. A message from Paris states that by a more reassuring majority of 400 votes to 500 the Chamber of Deputies adopted the proposal of the Premier, M. Painleve, to postpone the debate on Syria until after General Hawaii's statement has been placed before the Chamber. A committee vote, tantamount to one of confidence, was subsequently carried in the teeth of an Opposition move to secure an immediate discussion. It is reported that M. Heteri de Juvenel has been appointed Civil High Commissioner of Syria to replace General Sarrail.