ALLIES ADVANCING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1941, Page 6

ALLIES ADVANCING

HEADWAY ON ALL FRONTS IN SYRIA TOWARDS BEIRUT & ALEPPO. GAINS IN THE COASTAL ZONE & ELSEWHERE. LONDON, July 8. A Reuter message from Jerusalem states that Allied troops in the coastal area have now crossed a river a mile north of Damour and are forcing their way round a Vichy village stronghold covering the approach to Beirut. Progress is also reported by Allied forces advancing on Beirut from Damascus. In Central Syria, the inipoitant junction of Homs is now threatened by Allied forces, which arc only 15 miles away. Indian troops have advanced 80 miles up the Euphrates and half-way to Aleppo. In the extreme north-east, Indian troops are advancing parallel with the Istanbul-Aleppo-Bagdad railway. NEAR APPROACH MADE BY AUSTRALIANS TO BEIRUT. NOW ONLY FOUR MILES FROM PORT. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 8. Australian troops, after entering Damour, reported unofficially that they were only four miles from Beirut. ARMISTICE TALKS SAID TO BE IN PROGRESS. IN CAIRO AND MADRID. NEW YORK, July 7. The Ankara correspondent of the “New York Times” reports that AngloFrench armistice negotiations are proceeding simultaneously in Cairo and Madrid in connection with the hostilities in Syria.