London, May 19.
"The army of the Near East, whose supreme commander is Marshal Petain znd which enjoys the sympathy the whole population, is ready to meet force with force." declared Gen, Dentz. Vichy Governor and command der-in-chief in Syria. in an announcement broadcast yesterday form Beirut Gen. Dentz made a declaration about meeting force with force.
Britain had decided. the General said, to oppose by force German planes which landed in Syria. M>r-šhal Petain had already declared that France had no enmity towards England or her Empire.
"yesterday's incidents." he continued, "do not mean the occupation of the country or interference in its affairs. They result purely from the application of the armistice tern This is the whole truth.
"France, Syria and the Lebanon. which are bound together today more than ever in brotherly understanding, will not endanger their just cause by carrying out aggre: el the result of which will be the s of innocent people here or elsewhere-"I have been entrusted with the duty of defending this country, and I shall carry out my duty te Lest ability
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.