Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-11

B, the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 1.-THE Allied
drive into Syria has reached the
outskirts of Damascus, an au-
thoritative British source said
today, and that ancient city of
the invaded French mandate is
expected to be in British hands
by nightfall.
Giving detail to the Near East
general headquarters bare report
of satisfactory progress" this
source said the British-Free French
forces have reached Kissoue, 10 miles
south of Damascus and within easy
sight of its minarets.
French resistance admittedly was
stiffening, and reports received at
Vichy said the Allies not only were
stopped along the whole Syria
Lebanan front but even successfully
counter attacked in the thrust to-
ward Damascus.
Military dispatches from Damas-
Gus said the French and their ma
tive and African troops were re-
sisting strongly against British COL
umns moving along the seaboard
toward Beirut, toward Damascus
by way of Deraa and Kuneitra and
toward Kayak. north of Damascus,
by way of the Bekkaa Plain.
Defense Still Open Question.
Soueida, SIS miles southeast of Da-
mascus in the Jebel ed Druz, has not
been wrested from the French,
these advices said.
1t still is an open question. how
ever. whether the French will make
more than a formal gesture of de-
Tense.
Dynamited roads and artillery fire
more than a pitched stand at any
place have cut the Allies speed and
vacated garrisons along the line of
the advance have indicated that the
defense is more token than a
reality.
The Allies, stressing that they are
marching in as friends rather than
as foe, are showing restraint in the
use of their superior strength. They
hope that anti-German sentiment
will bring the Levants defenders
over to their side and already whole
groups are reported to have joined
arms with the Allies.
Nevertheless, Vichy reports say
there has been heavy fighting, espe-
cially in the region of the Litani
River, 40 miles south of Beirut.
Resistance Pockets Remain.
Although the British apparently
control the whole area south of
the river, they concede that pockets
of French resistance still exist there.
French reports also claimed that
two British destroyers had been
damaged in a battle off the Leban-
on coast. This may have been a
naval phase of what so far appears
to be sharp French resistance along
the coastal road to Beirut.
The Ministry Of Economic War
fare said the British would rush
food to any part of the country
where there is a shortage as soon
as the occupation is completed.
Adequate supplies for this purpose
are available in Palestine. it said.
If Syria becomes a British ally,
it added, the state will be assured
the same advantages in the British
Empire and United States as are
enjoyed now by French Equatorial
Africa, which has lined up with
the Free French.
Stiff opposition" was reported
encountered by British forces
landed on the Lebanon coast north
of Tyre under the guns of British
warships.
Sources here said several hundred
prisoners had been taken on all
fronts, but it was not certain
whether these were captured in
battle or gave up after mere token
resistance"
Launching of British drive into
Eastern Syria in an attempt to
tSee SYRIA, Page ABB