"NO WALK-OVER"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23996, 20 June 1941, Page 7

"NO WALK-OVER"

TILE CENTRAL SECTOR

STRONG VICHY RESISTANCE

USE OF MOBILE FORCES LONDON, June 19 Although the weight of the Vichy forces in Syria now seems to be concentrating on the coast, to meet the threat from the Australian column pushing up through Sidon, the fiercest fighting is taking place in the central sector, around Djezzin and Merjiyun, says the Australian official war correspondent. Tlio battle line in the central sector fluctuates backward and forward as small mobile and armoured forces of cither side make sudden attacks and counter-attacks.

The Australian columns are meeting strong counter-attacks by tho French, who are throwing in strong forces at Djezzin and Merjiyun. Our advance has temporarily been held up. The French are fighting with determination and making tho fullest use of their forces. "You have got to hand it: to them," said an Australian brigadier, "they know their job backward, and they are holding on to their jKisitions bravely. There is no question of a walk-over." Progress in Coastal Area According to a Cairo communique, further progress haw been made in tho coastal sector in Syria where Allied advanced patrols are now within 20 miles of Beirut. At Djezzin a determined counter-attack was successfully repulsed, leaving many Vichy infantry and several armoured cars in tho Allies' hands. Merjiyun. which was occupied by the Australians five days ago and was smoking under shell-fire from Vichy guns on Tuesday, was in the defenders' hands again on Wednesday morning, says another message. However, the important post of Djezzin. 10 miles further north, at the end oi the vital road from Sidon, was still held by the Australians. Between these points a confused series of battles was being fought. Kecapture of Towns Authoritative sources in Jerusalem on Wednesday night stated that the Allies had recaptured Merjiyun, and added that the fighting in Syria was becoming tougher. The Allies were now attacking Mezze. three miles westward of Damascus, while from Jebel Madani Free French forces were maintaining pressure against the Kiswe-Damascus road. The Allies, in retaking Ezra, captured 150 prisoners. The column pushing up the coast to Beirut has also made further progress beyond Sidon, where the position is described as reasonably secure. British military circles at Ankara estimate that the Vichy air force in Syria has been reinforced in the past 43 hours by between 50 and 70 machines, mostly fighters. Many are German, with French markings. General Bergert, Vichy Air Minister, is reported to have arrived at Dentz's Beirut headquarters.

CAPTURED TANKS USE BY AUSTRALIANS LAND RICH IN HISTORY JERUSALEM, June 18 Heavily-armoured medium Renault tanks, abandoned by the Vichy forces in the coastal sector in Syria, are now lending valuable support to the Australian troops who are clearing up the French rearguards beyond Sidon. Repainted a dull grey, with the Tricolour circular marking on the turret erased, these tanks rattled along the coast road to-day en route to assist the infantry. The leading tank flew a large Union Jack, "in case of accidents," as the driver put it.

The Australians in the coastal sector are fighting across a country rich in history.

Along this narrow coastal plain marched the armies of Philistia, Assyria. Babylon, Egypt, Persia, and Rome, bent on tho conquest of tho rich city of Sidon. Franks and Saracens fought for its possession in tho Middle Ages, and Mongols ravaged it toward the end of the 13th century. Jezzar Pasha defended it successfully against the French in 1799, the British, Austrian, and Turkish fleets bombarded in in 1810, and British troops occupied it on October 6, 1918. Now it has been occupied once again, this time by tough, sun-burned troops from the New World.

GARRISON SURPRISED

ATTACK IN ABYSSINIA LONDON, Juno 10 A Cairo communique states that in the Wolchefit sector, Abyssinia, our troops surprised the garrison of an Italian fort, causing the enemy over 100 casualties. As continued occupation would be of no value to us, the fort itself was completely burned out, then abandoned. Th-j Secretary of State for War, Captain PI. D. R. Margesson, stated in a Parliamentary reply yesterday that, according to the latest information, the number of Italian officers and other ranks now in British hands was 177,938, in addition to 66.010 native troops. EXCHANGE OF OFFICIALS MR. CURTIN'S SUGGESTION CANBERRA, Juno 10 In the House of Representatives on Wednesday night, Mr. J. Curtin, ! Leader of the Opposition, advocated \ that Australia and New Zealand should exchange High Commissioners with a view to furthering mutual interests in : defence. j The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Men- ' sues, replied that this matter was discussed when he was passing through New Zealand, and had been under consideration for some time.

Mr. 11. Semple, who is in Canberra, attended the War Cabinet meeting and exchanged views with the .Minister of Defence on the requirements of the two countries.