LITTLE RESISTANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1941, Page 6

LITTLE RESISTANCE

ENCOUNTERED AS YET BY ALLIES IN ADVANCE INTO SYRIA MANY FRENCHMEN COMING OVER. OTHERS CHASING TO FIGHT. (Ey Tclcp.raph—Press Associatlon—Copyright) <Received This Day. 12.35 p.m.) LONDON. June 9. A British military spokesman in Jerusalem said the advance into Syria had attained an average depth of 35 to 40 miles. The Allies, ar? encountering scattered centres cf resistance, but a considerable number cf French officers and men have gene over to the British and a number cf others have ceased to fight. The British casualties so far ,'ro iicnlinible The penetration of Syria is continuing. with British planes bombing the main airfields behind the French lines. br, ; details cf the fighting are very scanty. It is difficult to estimate the extent cf the French opposition, but it is clear that the Allies have not' yet encountered a major resistance and it is even reported that French officials in the country already occupied _ are co-operating with the Allies. British reconnaissance planes report seeing a large number of German troops on Rhodes and other Dodecanese islands, apparently awaiting aerial transport, presumably to Syria. Meanwhile the Berlin radio has stated: "At the moment Germany considers herself a nonparticipant, only an observer of a struggle between former allies. Nevertheless. Germany is watching closely every phase cf this shameless British violation of law and order as well as the French reaction to it." A French communique issued at Beirut, says: “The British continued I heir offensive throughout the night, by land and sea. but up to this morning the enemy’s attacks everywhere were held. Counter-attacks were made at certain points and landings were hindered.”

NAZI PARACHUTISTS ~ REPORTED LANDING IN LEBANON. QUICKLY MOPPED UP. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON. June 9. The first German parachutists ’ are reported to have landed at Merjiyn, The French garrison immediately appealed to the Allied forces for help. Other groups of parachutists landed at various points on the Lebanon frontier, but, according to the Free French radio in the Levant, al! were mopped up after doing only slight demolition work. Many were fired on by French garrisons, who afterwards greeted the Allied troops as friends. An Inspector of the French Surete (Detective Police) was arrested because he aided parachutists. A Druse chieftain, Sultan El Atrah, also welcomed the advancing troops, thus showing gratitude for British hospitality after 1926 in the Druse revolt, when he and his followers were sentenced to death by the French and fled to TransJordan.

According to a Damascus message, a state of siege, placing Syria under virtual military rule, was proclaimed shortly after the start of the Allied advance.

A Vichy communique states: “British and Free French forcese intensified their attacks this morning in the region of the Druse Mountains and Hermon foothills, using strong forces of all arms, including a high proportion of armoured units. Our covering forces, supported by artillery and aircraft, defended the terrain foot by foot.”