GATES OF DAMASCUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24631, 12 June 1941, Page 7

GATES OF DAMASCUS

THE ALLIED FORCES RESISTANCE ENCOUNTERED NAVAL UNITS LANDED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) , (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. f It is confirmed from Cairo that small British naval units landed in Syria ahead of the Allied troops advancing from the south. The naval forces assisted in effecting a crossing of the Litani River, countering attempts by troops favouring the Vichy Government to blow up the bridge. While the Allied advance on Damascus continues, information has reached London that Free French forces have encountered' resistance at a point about 10 miles south of the Syrian capital. In the centre fightings is taking place, and on the left the Allied forces have met with considerable resistance. The exact amount cf resistance is not yet known, but it is described in London as patchy. The Free French expect the Allies to enter Damascus to-night or tp-morrow. Reports from Beirut indicate that there is a heavy artillery battle not far south of Sidon. Military circles in Vichy claim that the British coastal advance is held on the line to the Litani River. Air reinforcements have been flown direct from Tunis to give General Dentr an air strength almost equal to that of the British. A communique from Beirut declares that the British efforts . to advance along the coast were defeated, but reports from Cairo say that the demolitions on the coastal road have now been overcome and the advance is proceeding. British and Free French forces now comprise several divisions, one of which is mechanised. < BRITISH TROOPS CONTROL IRAQ RAILWAY It is authoritatively stated in Ankara that British troops from Iraq have reached the Turkish-Syrian border, near Kamechilie, gaining control of the Turkish-Iraq railway. Vichy admits that the defender of El Quneitra, Sheik Hmiskin, retreated after a brilliant delaying action. French, Syrian and other colonial troops are apparently joining the Allies in considerable numbers, and others are surrendering after nominal resistance or going over to the Allies on a kind of neutral basis, “neither with you nor against you,” FRENCH FAVOURS DIVIDED The latest assessment in Cairo is that the attitude of Arabs and the Druse tribes is generally favourable, but the French are 50—50 for, General de Gaulle and for Vichy. A senior officer of the Lebanese Gendarmerie who joined the Allies declared: “If the number of French officers and men joining the Allies continues at the rate of the past , two days, resistance will be reduced to nothing, and General Dentz will have no alternative but to surrender.” ; - - . - : - ' , . - ■ ■ ■ ' ■ Many of the native troops are returning to their homes. The British advance is deliberately slow, for the purpose of minimising bloodshed, and fraternisation with the local inhabitants is widespread. , FREE FRENCH RANKS GROWING % General de Gaulle issued a statement that “63 officers from Syria are serving with us, and the Vichy authorities have sent more than ’ 200 others to prison.” * , ' A message from Marseilles states that M. Stolp, the French Consul-general at Smyrna, has resigned as a protest against Vichy’s collaboration with the Axis. , According to a message, from Reykjavik (Iceland), M. Henri Viollery, the French Consul-general, has resigned and declared for General de Gaulle.

NAZIS WITHDRAW •' - . - - - . ■ ■; ORDERS FROM BERLIN NO SACRIFICE OF SOLDIERS. LEAVING IT TO FRANCE - LONDON, June 10. It Is authoritatively stated in Cairo that the British troops are under 10 miles from Damascus. Vichy officially admits that the British are 18 miles from the capital It is stated officially in Beirut that French planes from North Africa have arrived in Syria. It is learned in Ankara that members of the German Air Force and army specialists, numbering 1700 scattered throughout Syria, have been ordered to retire from the country, because Berlin is convinced that the British invasion is not merely a political gesture or military bluff, and claims that a German evacuation can be completed without difficulty, although considerable equipment might be lost if the British advanced rapidly. German diplomatic circles in Ankara told the Associated Press correspondent that no German soldiers will be sacrificed in Syria. They say: " We are leaving it to the French.” Arab Reaction Favourable A British General Headquarters Cairo communique states: “In Arabia the penetration of the Allied forces is proceeding satisfactorily. The general impression is that Arab reaction to the arrival of our forces is favourable.” The Allied forces are advancing slowly in order to avoid clashes and carry out the occupation with a minimum of bloodshed. French feeling in Syria at the moment is thought to be evenly divided .between General de Gaulle and Vichy. Support by both the R.A.F. and the R.A.AF. is continuous, our air units protecting the naval forces operating off the coast as well as the land troops.

AIR OFFENSIVES MIDDLE. EAST RAIDS ENEMY BOMB HAIFA BASE AT ALEPPO USED RUGBY June 10. The presence of the Germans in Syria is fully demonstrated in an R.A.F. Middle East communique, which states: “Enemy raiders bombed Haifa, using the German-controlled base at Aleppo. “ Bomber aircraft of the R.A.F. carried out heavy raids on military objectives or. the island of Rhodes during the night of June 8-9. Direct hits were made on the northern mole of Rhodes Harbour. At Calato aerodrome large fires were started, which were visible 60 miles from the target, and at Kattavia bombs fell among about 50 dispersed aircraft, causing many fires and explosions. • “ R.A.F. and R.A.A.F. aircraft continued to give support to the advance of our troops in Syria. Our fighters attacked and drove off a number of enemy' aircraft which attempted to bomb our motor transport at Sanemein. Patrols carried out for his Majesty’s ships oft the Syrian coast, and during these five enemy aircraft were shot down into the sea. “Hostile aircraft approached Haifa during last night and were engaged by anti-aircraft defences. The enemy attack lasted a considerable time, and bombs were dropped, causing slight damage to civilian property. There were a few casualties, but none of a serious nature. One hostile aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and others were damaged. Before the last enemy raider had returned from Haifa to the German-controlled base at Aleppo, British aircraft were over the aerodrome bombing aircraft on the ground and the flare path along which the raiders were landing. Fires were observed and much damage was caused. “ Four S79’s were Intercepted by our fighters 50 miles west of Malta yesterday. Two enemy aircraft were shot down and two others badly damaged. “Aircraft of th» Fleet Air Arm attacked the harbour at Tripoli during the night of June 8-9. A fire was started on a ship and another on the Spanish Mole. R.A.F. fighters ma-chine-gunned and damaged a number of enemy aircraft on the aerodrome at Derna yesterday. Enemy positions and troop concentrations in the small area of Abyssinia still occupied by the Italians were machine-gunned and bombed by the R.A.F. and the South African Air Force. “Four of our aircraft are missing from these operations, but the crew of one has been saved.”