BATTLE FOR SIDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24634, 16 June 1941, Page 5

BATTLE FOR SIDON

THE AUSTRALIAN ATTACK FALL OF TOWN IMMINENT ENCIRCLEMENT OF DAMASCUS • (United Press Association) '._'■- ; (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. A Cairo Headquarters communique states that, following further advances made yesterday, the Allied forces in Syria have substantially increased the areas of penetration into the country* The Allies advancing northward from Merj Iyun have taken Jezzin. • '' Stubborn resistance by French Foreign Legionaries is holding up the Australian forces surrounding Sidon. The defenders are manning 75-millimetre guns in the town, and there is a ring of anti-tank and machine guns in the surrounding scrub. The fall of the town is only a matter of time. A Vichy communique says the Australians are more and more threatening Sidon, attacking without interruption, supported by tanks and a continuous naval bombardment. ~;,; ,3aCflY APMTTS LOSS OF KISWE : :T ,,X ; :-Tpe cbmmunique admits the loss of Kiswe, but says: "Our troops are stemming the advance of the enemy in other t sectors. The del Gaullist forces have been marking time for three days Isince, they, reached defence lines 12 miles iMuiW'M Damascus, Reports of negotiations for the surrender 'of the capital are denied." ;':' r::t: It* is reported from Jerusalem that the Allies from Merj ii'lyun -advanced up the Litaiti Valley and reached Bur- ;, kukii,;; 20 miles west of Damascus. The Allied forces from Elquneitra have reached Hamadieh, 20 miles south-west of Damascus. The forces east.of Kiswe have virtually completed the ; encirclement Of the capital. • BRITISH FORCES IN IRAQ An Ankara report states that the British are moving inco Iraq at good speed. The R.A.F. is installed in force at Mosuh Troops, mostly Indians, are coming up from Basra arid Bagdad by boat and train, and others are flying to Mosul and Habbaniyah. British.motorised troops are stationed at bases throughout the country, including KirkUk, and form the nucleus of what will apparently grow into a much greater expeditionary force. '■ ALLIED PRESSURE ON ALL FRONTS A Vichy pomm.unique,stated that Canadians were 'participating invthVattack in the region of Merj Iyun, but there.is : no cohfimation from other sources that there are Canadians in The' communique states also that British and Free French pressure is accentuated on all fronts. The Beirut radio quoted General Dentz in a communique which claimed that a brilliant cOunter-attack had dislodged the enemy from the outskirts of SidOn, and that Vichy troops were reoccupying their former positions. The Daily Mail correspondent on the Syrian frontier says that the Vichy troops are TightiiiK' without Cpmm«inder-in-Chief. General de Verdillic, Marshal Petairt ? s friend, who vvas appointed to succeed General Fougeres, has not «irived. The Rome radio said it was estimated ih Be nut that the' British forces in Syria total 30,0 CK).