“ CAPTURE ” OF SIDON

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

“ CAPTURE ” OF SIDON

Three Australians Bluff Authorities (Rec. 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, June 19. A lighter story from Syria is how an Australian sergeant-major, ser- . geant and corporal “captured” Sidon. These non-commissioned officers formed the army of occupation for four and a half hours before Sidon officially capitulated, accepting its surrender while a tank battle was raging southward of the town. When the first British armoured unite broke through and raced to Vichy headquarters, they found three grinning Australians there with the French staff under arrest and Vichy soldiers and officials lined up to welcome them. The sergeant-major said that he and his companions became separated from the main body attacking from the east. When the noise of battle died down he thought the attackers from the south must be in the town, so decided to go in to meet them. However, a Lebanese told him that the town had not yet surrendered. The battle had flared up so it was useless to try to get back. We decided to bluff it out and made the Lebanese take us to headquarters. I strode up to the Senegalese guarding the door and declared “the city has surrendered. Give up your arms." The Senegalese meekly gave up their rifles. I left the corporal to guard them and strode in with the sergeant. My revolver overawed the Vichy staff. They put up their hands. I left the sergeant over them and went to the town hall and commanded the Mayor to summon the council. He did and led them to Vichy headquarters, where we lined them up with the members of the staff and simply awaited the arrival of our troops.”