JUST IN TIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24629, 10 June 1941, Page 5

JUST IN TIME

NAZIS FORESTALLED SYRIANS TIRED OF VICHY MANY JOIN THE ALLIES LONDON, June 8. The Allied forces swept’ across the Syrian frontier in starlight at 2 a.m., Tomahawks roared overhead, protecting the English, Australian, Indian and Free French troops, but,. though reports to 5 p.m. recorded progress, full details are awaited. The Vichy authorities emphasised throughout the day the fierceness and violence of the fighting, but it is not clear in London whether any major clashes occurred between the invaders and the Vichy-supporting defenders, or whether the principal fighting is due to a revolt among the local inhabitants, including the Jebel-Druses and the rank and file of General Dentz’s forces, who are. known to be strongly anti-German. Cairo reports that a large number of Jebel-Druses, as well as many Syrians, have joined the Allied cause. Stirring Up Anti-British Feeling

Vichy is doing its utmost to make the maximum use of events in Syria in whipping up anti-British feeling. An official communique declares the invasion an act of hostility against French sovereignty, and Marshal Petain, in a message to General Dentz, resurrects all the bitterness of Oran. Dakar and Sfax, and stresses the theme that the British are causing brothers to fight brothers. He orders all French in ,the Levant to defend Syria against profoundly unjust aggression. Marshal Petain reiterated that there were no German troops or planes in Syria or Lebanon, and declared that British propaganda regarding this was a pretext for aggression. This attitude may be largely attributed fo Vichy’s desire to bolster pbpular feeling within France. In this con-, nection the 8.8. C.. broadcasting tonight, declared: “We have abundant evidence that the vast majority of the French nation is praying for the victory of de Gaulle’s and our cause.” German Planes in Syria In spite of the French denials, high Turkish circles in Ankara insist that there are at least 200 German planes in Syria, and between 5000 and 6000 German troops. The drone of unidentified planes en route to Syria during the night has been fairly common recently in the skies of South Turkey. Reports from Cairo reveal, indeed, that the Allied move against Syria was taken in the nick of time. A German mission was due to arrive in Syria on June 15 to take over the administration of the Aleppo district, which would give them control of vital north-south and east-west road and rail communications. It is also learned that General Huntziger (a member of the Vichy Cabinet) told General Dentz early in May that Admiral Darlan had conceded Syrian air bases to the Germans.*

Liberty for Syria and Lebanon

Cairo sources stress the importance of the British and Free French declarations pf liberty and, independence for "Syria and Lebanon. Since France’s capitulation the economic life of Syria has been almost paralysed, exports and imports falling to a minimum. Grave exchange difficulties have hampered trade, and oil has ceasfed to run through the Syrian branch Of the pipe line from Iraq. The declarations contain a promise of economic revival with the lifting of the blockade and the granting of opportunities to Syria and Lebanon to enter relations with the sterling bloc. •

It is stated that there seems a good probability that the Syrians, disgusted with the Germans and tired of Vichy, will accept the help,of the Allies and drive out the Germans. There is, however, no tendency to regard the operations necessarily as a walk-over.