PROGRESS IN SYRIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1941, Page 6

PROGRESS IN SYRIA

DRIVE OF ALLIED FORCES INTENSIFIED NAVAL ENGAGEMENT OFF COAST REPORTED TO BE STILL PROCEEDING. MANY PRISONERS TAKEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. A Vichy report says the Allies have taken Marjiyun and Gabarheb. The Allies have intensified their drive along the whole front. A Vichy battalion was wiped out after a three-day battle at the River Litani.

Australians .supported, by warship:-:, continue to advance towards Sidon. A message from Jerusalem says two Vichy cruisers and a destroyer bombarded the British at a range of 500 yards south of Beirut. The British artillery answered and the duel lasted for half an hour, until British warships arrived, when the Vichy ships put up a smokescreen and made off, with the British in pursuit.

It is authoritatively stated in London that we have taken hundreds of prisoners in Syria, but it is not clear whether they were captured normally or surrendered without fighting, 'there arc no reports at present that Germans arc- among them. It is confirmed that British troops were landed by sea around the region where our forces crossed the River Litani. These fresh troops met pretty stiff opposition. Nevertheless they succeeded in making progress for some miles northward of the river. The Navy is operating off the Syrian coast, but as the engagement is still proceeding no details arc available. - The Free French are encountering resistance at Kiswe. ten miles southward of Damascus. The Ministry of Economic Warfare is holding large quantities of food near Syria, which it is sending in immediately the Germans are driven out. MANY OBJECTIVES ATTACKED BY THE R.A.F. IN MEDITERRANEAN REGIONS. (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, June 11. Strong R.A.F. attacks on enemy objectives of many kinds continue in the various Mediterranean theatres. Today's R.A.F. Middle East communique states: "Heavy and successful attacks were made by bombers of the R.A.F. on enemy aerodromes in the Island of Rhodes last night. On the preceding night, at Calato, a large petrol fire was started and two enemy aircraft were burned out and a number of others destroyed or damaged by bombs which caused explosions and fires in a dispersal area. “In Cyrenaica, the harbour of Benghazi was again raided and hits were I made on a ship and on the Julian Mole. The nearby aerodrome of Benina was also bombed. Landing grounds at Derna, Gambut and Gazala wore attacked. At Gazala, bombs fell among a concentration of aircraft and started several fires among them. Fighter aircraft machine-gunned a convoy of enemy motor transport between Barce and Derna, destroying about thirty vehicles, mostly large tankers.

“In Syria and Palestine the R.A.F. has continued to give full support to the advance of our ground troops. A bombing attack was made on the aerodrome at Palmyra, direct hits being obtained on hangars. Haifa had two air raid alarms yesterday. One enemy aircraft was shot down.

"In Egypt a German aircraft which attempted to reconnoitre Alexandria was shot down by fighters. "None of our aircraft are missing from these operations.”