SYRIAN PARLEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1941, Page 5

SYRIAN PARLEY

NO REPLY YET MADE BY VICHY RUMOUR THAT TERMS WILL BE REJECTED. ALLIED AIR & LAND ATTACKS CONTINUE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 11. The British Government is still awaiting a reply to the terms offered for an armistice in Syria. The answer is expected to be sent through the United States Ambassador in Vichy. Marshal Petain and his Cabinet met this afternoon to consider the proposals. It is unofficially reported that Cabinet decided to reject the terms offered. The Allied forces continue their progress in Syria and the advances towards Aleppo and Homs are going on satisfactorily. Australian forces are steadily closing in on Beirut. . A Reuter message from Jerusalem reports that Indian troops, advancing along the Syrian-Turkish frontier, have occupied a town 100 miles northeast of Aleppo. In support of the land forces, the R.A.F. bombed an ammunition dump and a series of explosions followed for more than half an hour. Five Vichy fighters attacked British bombers but were in turn engaged by Australian aircraft and all five Vichy planes were shot down. A Vichy landing ground was heavily machine-gunned. Two aircraft were destroyed and others were damaged. Twenty-four transport vehicles were badly damaged by a heavy machine-gun attack. Two British planes are missing from all operations in the Middle East, bui the crew of one are known to be safe.

HEAVY FIGHTING IN PROGRESS AROUND BEIRUT. SUPPOSED NAZI PRESSURE ON VICHY. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 11. Heavy fighting is continuing around Beirut, according to a message today from an Associated Press of Great Britain correspondent with the Australians. He says the Australians, after smashing the remnants of the Darnour Line, advanced closer to Beirut as fighting continued, regardless of the moves for an armistice. The town is now within range of the big land guns, although thus far the British have refrained from shelling it, concentrating on what is left of the Vichy artillery in front of the city. Officers at field headquarters said: “There is no armistice as far as we are concerned. We have been told nothing officially and we are continuing. No Vichy delegation has crossed the lines at Beirut with any proposal to make Beirut an open city.” Several hundred prisoners and a large amount of material were captured after the attack on Beirut opened on July 6. A British United Press correspondent, south of Beirut, in a delayed message, dated July 10, said: “When General Wilson's request for the evacuation of Beirut expired in the morning: General Dentz had not sent a white flag to the British lines. Instead he ordered his remaining seventy-fives and bombers into action with the first light of dawn. Our military command has not heard anything officialy about the nature of General Dentz’s request for an armistice, and since has had no new orders. The attack on Beirut is continuing without relaxation. The general opinion here, based on the Vichy aerial and artillery activity, is that Germany may succeed in blocking the armistice move, thus forcing General Dentz to continue the campaign.” HALF CENTURY PASSED BRITISH FIGHTER SQUADRON. DESTRUCTION OF NAZI NIGHT RAIDERS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 11. In encounters on a recent night with enemy raiders over this country, a R.A.F, night fighter squadron achieved the distinction of being the first to destroy over 50 enemy aircraft by night. With the squadron’s score standing at 49, cheers rang through the station when a pilot returned, soon after midnight, to report that the 50 mark had been reached. Helped by the bright light of a full moon he chased and shot down a Heinkel over land. “He only needed one short burst,” he said. “There was a terrific explosion in his fuselage and it took me all my time to dodge pieces that were falling off him.” Less than an hour later the squadron bagged its fifty-first victim, when another raider was shot down into the sea and observers on shore could see its wreckage lying on the water, “We had a grand scrap, fighting at full throttle,” said the flight lieutenant responsible for this success. On a preivous night the same squadron bagged two of the five raiders destroyed after dark, and they have now received the following message from the air ace, Marshal Sir Quentin Brand, their group commander: Congratulations on passing your half century. Keep up the good work. I look forward with confidence to one hundred up.”

CAIRO COMMUNIQUE

GROUND GAINED ON SYRIAN FRONTS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 11. A Cairo communique states: “In Libya our patrols again are active. “From Abyssinia there is nothing to report. , “In Syria, General Dentz has made an approach for a suspension of hostilities. Further details are awaited. 'Meanwhile our advance towards

Aleppo and Homs is progressing satisfactorily. Yesterday British troops made a successful attack north of Jezzin. Further progress also is being made. In the coastal sector Australian forces are steadily closing in on Beirut.” It is learned in London that the measures being taken to ensure delivery to General Dentz of the terms of the armistice include broadcasting through short-wave and other stations.

MAY BE INTERNED VICHY SHIPS IN TURKISH PORT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 11. According to agency messages from Ankara, a number of Vichy warships have put into a Turkish port, having come from Beirut. It is pointed out in London that these ships .are perfectly within their rights in seeking pro tec-' tion from capture in neutral waters. If such ships are not needing repairs and stay in a neutral harbour for more than 24 hours, they are liable to internment for the duration of hostilities. The Turkish Government is carrying out this rule of international law and states that ships remaining over the time limit will be interned, with their crews.