ATTACK ON DAMASCUS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1941, Page 5

ATTACK ON DAMASCUS

FREE FRENCH & INDIAN FORCES ADVANCE OF SIX MILES. AMERICAN WARNING TO VICHY. LONDON, June 19. Following a rejection by General Dentz of the British ultimatum, Allied troops, heavily supported by bombers, are smashing their way into Damascus. An official Vichyite report from Beirut states that Indian and Free French forces today advanced six miles and entered the suburbs of the capital. Unconfirmed reports state that the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in the Middle East, General Wavell, has arrived in Syria to conduct an intensified offensive, and that Imperial reinforcements are arriving. The French counter-attacks which were previously reported to be menacing the British communications in several places have petered out because of a lack of troops to replace the tired units which have been battling for 12 days. The Beirut communique reports that British naval units bombarded a region north of Sidon, but the French Levant naval division shelled the British positions at Sidon. It adds that Indian troops last night infiltrated the Mezze region, three miles west of Damascus, but were driven out this morning. The French also repulsed an attack against Merj lyun. It is learned in London that in the central southern sector a strong Vichy force at Merj lyun, which was recaptured, has now been surrounded by the Allies. Firm diplomatic action by the United States caused Vichy’s moderation over Syria, particularly the decision

to regard the British penetration as a local incident, says the Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” “The Ambassador to Vichy, Admiral Leahy, between June 6 and 15 firmly warned Marshal Petain against full collaboration with Germany, and threatened that if action were taken detrimental to Britain the United States would seize French Guiana and the French West Indies, after which action would be taken against Dakar and Casablanca.