New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-23
The French War in Suria
By FRANK H. Simonds

The announcement that the French
troops in Syria have begun a double
offensive, directed both at Aleppo and
Damascus, with upward Of $4,000 men
engaged, draws attention to one more
interesting and important development
in the Near East. At the present mo-
ment the British, in cooperation with
the Greeks, are making war upon the
Turk In Anatolia; the French have now
undertaken war upon the Arabs, while
British and French foreign Offices con-
tinue to quarrel over their respective
spheres and interests between Con-
stantinople and the middle Tigris.
In making war upon the Arabs the
French are sssailing one of the most
ingenious and successful British crea-
tions. 1t will be recalled that during
the World War, while Great Britain
recognized French claims to the Syrian
region from the Gulf Of Alexandretta
to Palestine, it was British troops
which actually conquered the country.
Allenby's famous victories south of
Jerusalem and at Armageddon were
won with only tiny French contingent
assisting, but with great British forces
and very considerable Arab contribu-
tions.
The Sheriff of Mecca
1t was the idea Of the British, more
or less formulated by Colonel Law
renee, one Of the most brilliant of
young Enxlishmen, who acquired an
enormous influence among the Arabs,
to use tho Sheriff Of Mecca as the
central figure in the creation Of an
Arab state. extending from Mecca to
Alexandretta and from Egypt to Syria.
Prince Feisal, the son Of the Sheriff
Of Mecca, headed the Arab contingents
Ia the war, and after the war attended
the Paris Conference, where he was
backed by the British and opposed by
the French, who saw their Near East
ern colony disappearing in the new
Arab kingdom.
The vsrious maneuvers at Paris and
since are too intricate to be recapit-
ulSted; now informed American sym.
psthies, powerfully voiced by the late
nr. Howard Bliss. Of Beirut College
while refraining from championship Of
the Arab kingdom, favored some sort OF
Syrian Independence, backed by The
League Of Nations and founded upon
Soma expression Of the will Of the peo-
pie. The position was equally unsatisfac.
tory to the British, for whom the Arab
kingdom was no more than device for
controlling all tho Arab world, and
to the French. who wanted a Syrian
colony with no more limitations than
were imposed upon the British in thei,
Egyptian possessions.
The Long Battle
Tho long battle between tho French
and the British was fought all over the
Near East. In recent months thu
French have manifestly separated them.
selves from the British. They have
entered into an armistics with the
Turks, north Of Syria, at the precise
moment when the British and the
Greeks are attacking them south Of
Constantinople. They have Withdrawn
their scattered detachments from all Of
Turkey and concentrated them in Syria
whore they are commanded by Genera
Goursud, victor Of the last Battle Of
Champagne, In July, 1918, which brok.
the final Ludendorf offensive ant
opened the way to the victory of thu
Second Marine.
Now. the French have begun a wa,
upon Prince Fsisal and the Arab king
dom. Their Immediate detectives ar,
lpazaascna and Alsppo. great citiA. no