Evening star., 1941-06-09

Syria S defense forces, had reported
a bloody battle in progress just south
of Soueida.
THE German radio announced
last night that this column had
reached Scueida, capital of Jebel
Ed Druz, So miles south of
Damescus)
Barrage Of Statements.
AS the columns moved out, Britain
threw every diplomatic resource into
the struggle, which informed quar-
ters said was more political than
military.
A barrage of declarations, state
ments, pleas and explanations
conceded with the troops zero hour.
Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell
British Near East commander in
chief, appealed to the French not
to fight the Free French or at least
not to hamper the movement for
liberation.
I'VE remember the common VIC
tory over the same boche 20 years
ago." he said in a leaf1et scattered
far and wide over Syria and Le-
banon. Let's beat them again. We
would like victory with our comrades
of the last war by our sides again,
not against u.s."
Gen. Catroux, long an expert in
Near Eastern affairs and now the
Free French leader in that theater,
issued a similar appeal and in the
name of Gen Charles de Gaulle,
supreme leader of the Free French
movement, proclaimed himself the
liberator of Syria and Lebanon.
Inhabitants of Syria and Le-
banon The great hour in our
history has sounded for you. France
declares you independent by the
voice of her sons who are fighting
for her life and the liberty of the
world" his statement said.
He offered treaty between Free
France and Syria and Lebanon, an
offer which the British government
Immediately backed.
Statement by Ambassador.
Sir Miles Lampson, British Am
baSsador to Egypt, told Lebanon and
Syria in a formal statement:
Il am authorized to give
you the assurance that should you
support and join the Allies his
majesty's government in the United
Kingdom offer you all the ad-
vantages enjoyed by free countries
who are associated with them.
The blockade will be lifted and
you may enter into immediate re-
lations with the sterling bloc which
will give you enormous, besides i'm
advantages from the point
of view of your exports and imports.
You will be able to sell your products
and buy freely in all free countries"
Gen. Catroux's broadcast leaflets
declared that Britain and the
United States are with u.s."
The humiliating, perfdious policy
of the Vichy government has
plunged the Levant into war" they
continued. I'VE will make war with
energy, abnegation, frmness, and
with honor and full hope for the
victory we know will be ours"
In another appeal Gen. Catroux
declared he would send before mill
tary courts" any French soldier dis
obeying his order forbidding execu-
ton of commands from Vichy to
desist.
Military circles said these troops,
if they came over to the Allied
cause, might fill vital need for
manpower should Germany move to
counter the Allied action.
The British government issued a
formal statement declaring that it
had ordered the invasion because:
German infiltration into Syria
has begun and the Vichy govern
ment are continuing to take meas
ures whose effect must be to bring
Syria and Lebanon under full Ger
man control This statement also
backed the Catroux promises of in
dependence,
1t has been established that Ger
man planes which few into Iraq re-
Gently to help Rashid Ali AL Gallant
in his wrecked revolt against the
British we're using Syrian air fields
for refueling. which is legal under
the French-Axis armistice terms,
British pointed out.
Charges that the fields we're being
turned into Axis air bases for a
push on Suez were denied emphat-
ically by Vichy, however, as were
assertions that German troops were
flltering steadily into Syria and
Lebanon.