ON FRENCH SOIL

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

ON FRENCH SOIL

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS STRONG FORTRESS STORMED STUBBORN RESISTANCE (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 10. A delayed message from the special correspondent of the Associated Press with the Allies describes how, early on June 8, Australian infantry, accompanied by Bren gun carriers and 25pounders, set off from the shores of the Sea of Galilee for the frontier, where they surprised a French sergeant and seven Lebanese guards, who surrendered without a word. The Australians thereafter ran into a volley of shots from a concealed fort, to which they replied with artillery, silencing the fort's guns. After storming the stronger fortress of Khaim, they sent out flanking parties, causing the garrison's withdrawal and enabling British control of Merjiyun. the first important town across the frontier in this sector.

The Australian official war correspondent, in a message from Jerusalem dated June 8, says the Australians crossed to French soil at Chaab without a conflict, but from this point on they met with resistance, mostly «from fortified posts around Merjiyun, where it is estimated that at least four French battalions offered fight. The Allied troops were ordered not to open fire nor show their arms unless and until they were attacked. Their progress has since been resisted by force —stubbornly, if not formid-. ably. Children were removed from one village in the fighting area to a safer district in a motor bus. They sang songs and waved to the Australians as they departed. . Besides the force which is driving towards the centre of Syria, another Australian force is moving up the coastal road and an Indian force is converging from the east. The Australians in the central drive are supported by English cavalry—on horses. This use of British horses for the first time in the war is justified by the nature of the country in which they are at present operating. The cavalry officers are fine men and have fine horses.

The Australians started operations at 2 a.m. on June 9, when they cut the barbed wire frontier protection on the Rasen Nakura—Beirut coastal road, after which they soon occupied Rasen Nakura. but they were delayed by the blowing up of a road near Iskanderunch. Sajpers speedily repaired the road, and the Australians entered Tyre at nightfall, completing a good day's work by occupying beach points where the Germans could make landings of troops. It is not expected that the Australians will meet much resistance until they reach the line of defence around Saida. which, with pillboxes and concrete blockhouses, forms the outer defence of Beirut.