KID GLOVE POLICY ABANDONED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21994, 20 June 1941, Page 5

KID GLOVE POLICY ABANDONED

HARD FIGHTING IN SYRIA Damascus Surrounded Ultimatum To Vichy General By Telegraph-Press Association— Copyright (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 19. The Allied Forces have now closely surrounded Damascus, and according to the Free French radio at Jerusalem, General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson has requested General Dentz to withdraw his troops from the capital to save the city from attack. Failing a reply by 5.30 a.m. action will be taken. All important heights have been occupied. The British loss and recapture of El Quneitra provides a tale of heroism ranking high in this or any other campaign. Between 300 and 400 infantrymen from a famous London regiment and the Free Freeh resisted the attacks of the Viqhy forces for 48 hours. The Vichy troops, with 15 tanks, six armoured cars, artillery, mortars and machine-guns launched the closing attack at dawn, encircling the village with two battalions and tanks. The infantry attacked at 8 a.m. but were repulsed. The tanks attacked at 10 a.m., but failed to get through. The Allies maintained their fire and used grenades most effectively, inflicting terrible losses on the enemy. The Vichy forces then with concentrated Are shelled the village. The allies fought on until the last bullet, but at 6.30 p.m. were forced to surrender. Vichy’s hold on El Quneitra lasted exactly 150 minutes, because allied reinforcements, Infantry and artillery, rushed up at sunset and captured the town before dark. The increased resistance by Vichy troops has resulted to the abandonment of the Allied kid glove policy in many areas of Syria. In spfte of the fact that Vichy is throwing in all her reserves in an effort to stem the Allied advance, our corrective action has been most successful and while the necessity for cleaning up mobile parties of Vichy troops has slowed up the Investment of Damascus, more decisive action around the capital may be expected at any moment.

Accounts from Beirut declare that increasingly powerful elements, particularly artillery, are operating on both sides and a war of movement is raging fiercely between the coast and Jebel Druse with heavy fighting particularly along lines of commimlcation and crossroads in the Allied rear. Counter-thrusts by Vichy forces are claimed to have reached the Palestine frontier. East of Hermon, according to Vichy sources, there was a melee of infantry, cavalry and armoured units in which the initiative shuttlecocked between one side and the other. The air forces of both sides were most active. . .. . Only a favourable opportunity is awaited to throw in the Indian and Free French forces to assault Damascus, states an agency report. These forces, according to this report, have reached the western surburbs of the city. Vichy troons are delaying the assault on the city by a heavy shelling of the road. Colonel Collet and his Circassians are reported to be closing in on the city. ■ Vichy troops are still holding out at Mezze but Allied troops, including Indians, are renorted to be pushing along the main road past Kiswe and to the east in the mountainous district of Jabour and Atrizo. , Darlan Offers Amnesty Admiral Darlan, broadcasting from Vichy, offered Free French soldiers in Syria an amnesty if they joined General Dentz, but declared that officers would be punished if cau"ht “I speak in the name of Marshal Petain. You are engaged in a battle against your brothers. I know that you are courageous, but If you understood the history of France you would know that our main task is to safeguard united France under Marshal Petain.” British Women Leave Cyprus Practically all British women, numbering 1000, British children and aged people have been evacuated from Cyprus. Jews and 500 Poles who fled their country after the invasion will also be taken off the Island.