BLOODLESS WEAPON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1941, Page 5

BLOODLESS WEAPON

EXTENSIVE USE MADE OF WIRELESS IN ENLIGHTENING DUPED POPULATION. PROGRESS IN REORGANISING OCCUPIED AREAS. LONDON, June 15. An independent French news agency message from Jerusalem says that Syrian and Lebanese territory which has so far been occupied by the Allies equals the area of several French departments, and contains nearly half a million inhabitants. Officers devoted to the Allied cause, it states, have already taken the first steps toward realisation of the Allies’ promise of independence and are reorganising the departments of finance, police, Customs, public works, and education, which are now running smoothly under improved conditions. Merchants from Syria and Lebanon are being granted permits to purchase petrol anywhere in Palestine, and also to send into the occupied territory Wheat, flour, rice, sugar, coffee, and kerosene. Colonel Collet, whose forces are operating in the region of Damascus, has conferred with a number of prominent Syrians and sent them back to their homes with appeals to their fob lowers to facilitate the bloodless progress of the Allies. Wireless is playing an important part in saving lives in the British campaign. Continual broadcasts are being made to the Vichy troops explaining to them how they have been duped into playing the German game and fighting Germany’s war for her. The British and Free French proclamations are given out over the wireless as well as being dropped from the air in pamphlet form. In fact, wireless is being used as a bloodless weapon in the war in Syria, as it was in the campaign against the Italian forces in East Africa. Its object is to persuade the Vichy troops to give up this foolish struggle and join with the forces of General de Gaulle and repel the Germans. Obviously, so long as this weapon achieves its object, as it is known it is doing from the number of Vichy troops who are constantly joining General de Gaulle from Syria, the Allies are saving the lives of their troops. The longer this can be done without attempting to force the issue by a violent battle the fewer lives will need to be sacrificed to gain the objective.

RAIDS ON CYPRUS \ LONDON, June 16. Enemy planes were over Cyprus last night, and dropped a stick of bombs, but they caused no material damage nor casualties. Bombs also fell in the sea off the western end of the island.