GENERAL DENTZ PROTESTS

Southland Times, Issue 24438, 19 May 1941, Page 7

GENERAL DENTZ PROTESTS

“FLAGRANT HOSTILITY” LONDON, May 16. The position in Syria is rapidly moving towards its climax, after the announcement of the British bombing of' the Syrian aerodromes comes news of the French protest. General Dentz, High Commissioner m Syria for the Vichy Government, has issued a communique stating that a French officer was killed when the British planes bombed Palmyra and Rayak and machine-gunned the barracks at Beirut and Damascus and Rayak- Ps°" test has been lodged with the Britisn Consul-General in Beirut. The official statement declares: The British action constitutes flagrant hostility against France. In recent days German planes have made forced landings on Syrian aerodromes. The French authorities, according to the terms of the armistice, procured, their departure as rapidly as possible.” Vichy’s decision to collaborate witn Germany has caused consternation in influential circles in Syria. It is reported that scores of Frenchmen sent there to try to counter the activities of General Charles de Gaulle’s supporters have now resigned. Many incidents have occurred since the announcement of the Hitler-Darlan agreement. Free French flags mysteriously appeared on the public buildings in Beirut. They were immediately taken down and scores of people suspected of being British sympathizers have been arrested. ACUTE FOOD SHORTAGE Refugees from Syria arriving in Transjordan report an acute food shortage throughout Syria because the authorities have confiscated all hoarded foodstuffs for military purposes. It is authoritatively stated in London that should Britain enter into hostilities against the Vichy Government the French warships at Alexandria will certainly be seized. The French units have been demilitarized, but could be quickly commissioned. A fair proportion of the French naval personnel is believed to be on Britain’s side, but not the majority. Beirut radio states that the French are strengthening their Syrian defences and are reinforcing their garrisons on the Palestine and Turkish frontiers. Axis sources in Istanbul declare that Baron Franz von Papen, German Ambassador in Ankara, offered Turkey some Greek islands off the Turkish coast if Turkey would co-operate with the Axis. German land forces in Greece are withdrawing northwards and simultaneously there is an influx of German aeroplanes into Greece. The Germans are building up a strong air force in Greece with a view to operations against Crete, Cyprus and the Middle East and possibly to support a renewed push in North Africa. STIR IN ANKARA The American Associated Press correspondent in Istanbul says that the British bombings of Syrian aerodromes has caused a tremendous stir in official circles in Ankara. If the fighting spreads to Syria Turkey will be virtually isolated from the democracies to which her policy attaches her. Well informed circles in Ankara said that Turkey would maintain her atti-

tude of non-belligerency despite Syrian developments and would only abandon it if her independence were threatened. This course can only be interpreted as meaning that Turkey will keep out of the war at all costs.