ALLIED FORCES IN SYRIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1941, Page 5

ALLIED FORCES IN SYRIA

Powerful and Sustained Support by Air ENEMY RAIDERS PURSUED TO BASE AT ALEPPO FRENCH OPINION IN TERRITORY DIVIDED LONDON, June 10. A Reuter message from Cairo reports that advanced elements of the allied forces in Syria are now about 15 miles from Damascus. The allied advance, it is stated, has been delayed •in order to avoid clashes, since it is hoped' to carry out the occupation with a minimum of fighting. The reaction of the French has not yet crystallised. About 50 per cent are prode Gaulle and 50 per cent pro-Vichy. An R.A.F. communique from Cairo states that the R.A.F. and the Royal Australian Air Force continue to give support "to the advancing troops. British fighters attacked and drove off a number of enemy aircraft attempting to bomb motor columns about half-way to Damascus. Patrols were carried out over warships off the coast. Five enemy aircraft were destroyed. Hostile aircraft approached Haifa last night and were engaged by the ground defences. Only slight damage was done and the casualties were few. One hostile aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft gun fire and others were damaged. Before the last enemy raiders had returned to the German-controlled base at Aleppo, British planes bombed aircraft on the ground and dropped bombs on the flare path on which the returning raiders were landing.