NAZIS IN SYRIA

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21441, 7 June 1941, Page 7

NAZIS IN SYRIA

AERODROMES OCCUPIED PRCLBRITISH ARRESTED READINESS FOR WAR 'United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, June 6 The Daily Express correspondent on the Syrian frontier says that Dr. von Roser, Hitler’s “under-cover man” in Syria, virtually took over the country from the French today. A great round-up of anti-Nazis began in Beirut, where the security police made house-to-4iouse searches and arrested hundreds of pro-British people, who were then sent to Damascus. Frenchmen in sympathy with General de Gaulle’s movement have been arrested by order of General Dentz. A Free French spokesman in Cairo alleged that General Dentz has asked Vichy that pro-German Frenchmen or even Germans should be sent to Syria. The Germans have warned the port authorities at Beirut that they would soon have to make room for German E-boats and submarines, which must be given equal facilities with the French Navy. French Aerodromes Occupied It has been reported from Ankara by a reliable authority that German air personnel has already occupied the French aerodromes in Damascus, Aleppo and Palmyra, which are the three largest in Syria. It is reported that more enemy aircraft have arrived in Syria, and 500 tons of aviation petrol has reached Aleppo. A regular service of German aeroplanes between Rhodes and Syria has been observed. Towns cn the Syria-Palestine frontier have been evacuated in readiness tor war. A number of French soldiers from Syria are said to have joined General de Gaulle’s forces. The French Consul at Salonika is also reported to have joined the Free Frencn movement. Another denial that German troops are in Syria was made by the Governor, General Dentz, last night. He spoke of “mad lies ana rumours that say that German troops and aeroplanes are in Syria.” He repeated his warning to Britain that France would meet force by force. A Free French spokesman broadcasting from Cairo countered this statement with an allegation that the hotels in Beirut were filled with Germans. The British Government, it is stated in London, while it is aware of what is going on in Syria, naturally cannot divulge anything of Britain’s plans.