THE GATES OF DAMASCUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19617, 22 October 1925, Page 9

THE GATES OF DAMASCUS

ATTACKED BY DRUSES. hut Association—By Telegraph— Copyriglrt. PARIS, October 20. Advices from Beirut state that the Druses are attacking the gates of Damascus. They have been joined by the Communistic and anti-French elements. They have entered the southern quarters. The position in Syria is critical. France is faced with a grave crisis in her mandated territories.—A. and N.Z. Cable. TROUBLE ENDS SUDDENLY. TRANCE EXACTS SATISFACTION. BEIRUT, October 20. (Received Oct. 21, at 9.20 p.m.) The rising in Damascus has ended. Local notables agreed to pay a large fine and surrender several thousand Riffs.—Reuter. GUNS AND TANKS USED. LONDON, October 20. (Received Oct. 21, at 11.15 p.m.) The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent reports that tho French garrison at Damascus smashed the Druses rebellion with guns and tanks. Parties of Druses, helped by a majority of the Moslem population, barricaded the native quarter and started looting and burning in various districts under French control. The French military governor thereupon ordered the field artihery to shell the native quarter throughout tho day. Subsequently tanks demolished the barricades. . Tho insurgents, who are still a few isolated districts, have despatched emissaries asking for terms. Meanwhile the Damascus-Beirut railway ,is interrupted. The French have asked Pans for 15,000 reinforcements.—Sydney Sun Cable.