STREET GALLED STRAIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19622, 28 October 1925, Page 7

STREET GALLED STRAIGHT

RUINED BY FRENCH GUNS. BOMBARDMENT OF DAMASCUS. Pno* Aiw*olaHoa—By TMegraph'-Copyris&k LONDON, October 26. (Received Oct. 27, at 5.6 p.m.) The Damascus correspondent of The Times, lifting- the veil as to the actual situation in Damascus, says that St. Paul’s street, called Straight, is almost destroyed and lies in ruins. As a result of the French bombardment is has been torn up by shellfire, the bazaars and shops have been destroyed, and the whole area round the street has been more or less demolished. The beautiful domes of the Mosques have been badlv holed, and the Mosaic windows shattered. Words fail to describe the spectacle which the sacred ancient city presents with some of its choicest historic spots in ruins. There was much looting during the night prior to the bombardment, mainlv by Druse gangs and the old city resounded far and wide with rifle shots. French tanks, at high speed, traversed' the streets firing guns for demonstration purposes. The bombardment lasted for 48 hours and only ceased when the notables agreed to pay a heavy fine and surrender all rifles.—The Times.

It was in the street called Straight that St. Paul had his sight restored by Ananias, and also whence he was rescued from the Jews by being lowered from the wall in a basket. The circumstances are narrated in the ninth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. REPORT FROM ARAB SOURCE. GRAVE CHARGES OF BRUTALITY. CORROBORATION LACKING. LONDON, October 26. (Received Oct. 27, at 8.5 p.m.) The National Political League in London, which represents the Palestine Arab Congress, has received a 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 50 hours. The greater part of the city was demolished, thousands of persons were rendered homeless, and thousands of innocent persons perished. Tim French armed the Armenian immigrants, who carried cut fearful depredations. The British consulate was demolished. The French are suppressing news. Fugitives allege that 25,000 women perished. The Daily Express states that the Foreign Office has not received corroboration of this report. It understands that some of the rebels who entered a portion of the city were shelled out by the French. The British consulate is unharmed.—A. and N.Z. Cable.