MOVE INTO SYRIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1941, Page 6

MOVE INTO SYRIA

FULL SUPPORT GIVEN BY R.A.F. FIGHTER AIRCRAFT PATROLS. NO OPPOSITION MET. (British Official Wireless:) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) RUGBY, June 8. A special R.A.F. Middle East communique states: "R.A.F. aircraft gave lull support to the British, Imperial and Allied force which crossed into Syria at dawn today. Fighter ahcral’t which patrolled the sky over our advancing troops, met with no opposition. ’’ VICHY TACTICS STIRRING UP ANTI-BRITISH FEELING. SUGGESTIONS OF REVOLT AGAINST DENTZ. I Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON. June 8. Allied forces swept across the Syrian frontier in starlight at 2 a.m.. Tomahawks roaring overhead, protecting the English, Australian, Indian and Free French troops, but though reports to 5 p.m. recorded progress, full details are awaited. The Vichy authorities have been emphasising throughout the day the fierceness and violence of the fighting, but it. is not clear in London whether any major clashes have occurred between the invaders and the Vichysupperting defenders, or whether the principal fighting is due to a revolt of the local inhabitants, including the Jebel Druses and the rank and file of Genera! Dentz’s forces, who are known to be strongly anti-German. Cairo reports that a large number o! Jebel Druses as well as many Syrians have joined the Allied cause. Vichy is doing its utmost to make a maximum use of events in Syria, in whipping up anti-British feeling. An official communique declares the invasion to be an act of hostility against French sovereignty. Marshal Petain, in a message to General Dentz. resurrects all the bitterness of Oran. Dakar and Sfax and stresses the theme that the British are causing brothers to fight brothers. He orders all French in the Levant to defend Syria against a profoundly unjust aggression. Marshal Petain reiterated that 'here were no German troops or planes in Syria or Lebanon. He declared that British propaganda regarding this was a pretext for aggression. This attitude may be largely attributed to Vichy’s desire to bolster popular feeling within France. In this connection, a 8.8. C. broadcaster tonight declared: “We have abundant evidence that a vast majority of the French nation is praying for the victory of General de Gaulle's and our cause.” FACTS FROM TURKEY AT LEAST 200 NAZI PLANES IN SYRIA. AND THOUSANDS OF GERMAN TROOPS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, June 8. Despite French denials, high Turkish circles in Ankara insist that there are at least two hundred German planes in Syria, and between 5,000 and 6,000 German troops. It is also reported that the drone of unidentified planes en route to Syria during the night has been fairly common recently in the skies of South Turkey. Reports from Cairo reveal, indeed, that the Allied move against Syria was taken in the nick of time. A German mission was due to arrive in Syria on June 15, to take over the administration of the Aleppo district, which would have given them control of vital north, south, east and west road and rail communications. It is also learned that General Huntziger told General Dentz early in May that Admiral Darlan had conceded Syrian air bases to the Germans. Cairo sources stress the importance of the'British and Free French declarations of liberty and independence for Syria and Lebanon. Since Franco’s capitulation, the economic life of Syria has been almost paralysed, exports and imports falling to a minimum. Grave exchange difficulties have hampered trade and oil has ceased to run through the Syrian branch of the pipeline from Iraq. The declarations contain a promise of economic revival, with the lifting of the blockade and (he granting of opportunities to Syria and Lebanon to enter into relations with the sterling bloc. It is stated that there seems to be a good probability that the Syrians, disgusted with the Germans and tired of Vichy, will accept the help of the Allies to drive out the Germans. However, there is no tendency to regard the operations necessarily as a walkover.