ADVANCE ON BEIRUT
HEAVY RESISTANCE MET NAVY ASSISTING TROOPS IN COASTAL ZONE. BRIEF SORTIE BY FRENCH DESTROYERS. LONDON, June 22. The Jerusalem spokesman said that in south Syria numerically superior Vichy forces attacked the Free French in the neighbourhood of Jebel Elkleb, but the Allies still hold the railway and the highway from Transjordan. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting is going on between Australians and Vichy troops in the houses and streets of Merjiyum. Empire troops advancing on Beirut are meeting considerable machinegun fire. Moscow radio reports from Vichy that 80,000 people already have been evacuated from Beirut, many on foot because of lack of transport. An earlier message stated that the attack on Damascus was taking place in terrible heat. Meanwhile, the British Fleet is pounding the Vichy positions between Sidon and Damour, and violent fighting is reported in the Kuneitra and Dera sectors.
The necessity for relieving Meriiyun has held up the Australian advance along the coast.
A correspondent of the British United Press with the British on the Lebanese coast says that three largefast French destroyers are playing cat and mouse with substantial British naval forces. The destroyers apparently have been ordered to locate the Australian field artillery by drawing their fire. The destroyers darted inshore, firing quick salvos, but brisk Australian machine-gun fire was the only answer. It was sufficient, however, to persuade the destroyers to put up a smoke screen and hastily retire to Beirut. The- British Navy continues to hammer the Vichyitcs, regardless of attacks from German dive-bombers. The warships so far have suffered negligible damage, despite many "near misses” from 10001 b. bombs. Prisoners taken at Sidon Included members of the Spanish International Brigade now with the French. Beirut claims that British artillery is shelling the Moslem quarter of Damascus. The authorities protested to the Iraqui and Saudi-Arabian consuls. drawing their attention to the fact that Damascus is the “second most important city in the Islam world." It is recalled in London that the French themselves shelled Damascus in 1925. .destroying the famous Moslem Palace.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1941, Page 5
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340ADVANCE ON BEIRUT Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1941, Page 5
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