NEARING BEIRUT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24630, 11 June 1941, Page 5

NEARING BEIRUT

ALLIED ADVANCE GUARDS ADMISSION BY VICHY BRITISH FORCES SUPERIOR ~ (United Press Association) :':/ , (By Electric Telkgraph-^-Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 9, " The Free French radio at Brazzaville says that ~,,.. "4000 French deserters in Syria are now fighting on our side. Our advance continues most success- :. fully, and the advance guards sire meeting, with V" scarcelyany resistance. The Allies have reached the outskirts of Beirut. Vichy newspapers published a statement that , M the British forces are superior to a marked degree, j especially in armoured equipment, and the difficulties of a weak army defending the Levant territories must be pointed out. Supplying this army hot only V' /with arms and ammunition, but with food and fuel,, is almost impossible." Admiral Parian's secretary • admitted that the Syrian situation was particularly grave. ; The following communique was issued by General Headquiirters, Cairo:---' 4 The penetration of Syria is proceeding general impression is that the Arab reaction is favourable." ; In the House of Commons to-day Mr Churchill announced that he was not able at present to make a statement on the situation, but according to the latest agency reports the Allied froops are making steady progress in the advance on Damascus and Beirut. ;.;■_ . ." It was announced in London that some of the most - modern equipment now reaching the Middle East from was probably being used in the Syrian campaignConvoy after convoy of mechanised equipment is rolling acrus* the Sinai desert through; Palestine to the frontier. Americanbuilt aircraft: are also active oyer Syria/ British and Free French forces waited all Saturday night in bright moonlight for the order to invade Syria,; says the Jerusalemcorrespondent of The Times. At the first coming of light; they crept out from their positions among the rocks and made for the frontier. Reconnaissance patrols stole on ahead while anti-tank guns, tanks, and armoured cars cruised ahead of the infantry along the new first-class roads leading toward the coast and 1 inland. General Catroux announced tne -Palestine radio that " our men went in singing: the Marseillaise." f * ; * The r correspondent added that the- eoaital laadW '£''"' ;-|ng': ground ' just '^across " ; r^ : fe '"-;- • 300 and 400 prisoners were quickly taken, some willa ingly and others after a snow of resistance. The : opposing troops are mostly Senegalese brother . French native battalions officered by whites; Throughout the advance the French and Syrians are They areTnot being asked to surrender, but to join the Allies, 'who are going into action only where resistance is shown. « ■■'' The correspondent, of tiie Daily Express with the Australians says that an Australian officer, daring a hail of machine-gun bullets and mortar fire, crept up to one French fort covering Merjiyiin and called on the commander out and talk it over. The commander parleyed for two hours, after which he surrendered. According to a message from Washington, the Vichy ■« Ambassador,-M: Henry Have, expressed to Mr Cordell Hull "the indignation of the French people at the unjustified and -unprovoked attack by the British on Syria." Mr Hull is reported to have told the Ambassador that he was surprised failure of France to halt German infiltration in Syria, Whereas she immediately took up arms against the British •and the Free French. _ _